1. Creatieve Coalitie in Rotterdam 

The municipality of Rotterdam and the Creatieve Coalitie have signed a cooperation agreement. In doing so, the municipality supports the plan to promote the interests of creative and cultural makers and thus improve their labour market position.
This will make them more resilient and keep the cultural sector alive. Alderman Kasmi of Culture signed an agreement with the Creatieve Coalitie on behalf of the municipality. The Creatieve Coalitie is a representation of makers and other creative professionals in the cultural sector.
With the signing, Rotterdam is also the first city where the Creatieve Coalitie has set up a local branch to represent its interests and act as a discussion partner in consultations with the municipality.

Among other things, the cooperation means that the cultural sector is seen as equal, for example in terms of the labour market. The Fair Practice Code must now be made concrete for people working in the cultural sector in the municipality of Rotterdam. This means fair rates and fair distribution of resources.

Are you an artist/cultural worker in Rotterdam and would you like to get in touch with the Creatieve Coalitie to share ideas on how to improve the position of working people in Rotterdam? Then send an email to  secretaris@decreatievecoalitie.nl

2. Oog voor Impuls: Secure and safe working in the cultural and creative sector

Are you insured for disability. Oog voor Impuls is a scheme of Platform ACCT meant as an incentive for self-employed or employed people with a hybrid professional practice in the creative and cultural sector to insure themselves against disability.

If you are ill and temporarily unable to work, you miss out on turnover and income. The government is keen to encourage self-employed people or those working in a hybrid professional practice in the cultural and creative sector to insure themselves against illness and disability and has therefore made an incentive budget available for a certain period. On this website, you can read how you can get a temporary contribution to the cost of your provision for disability (insurance or fund) from us.

The scheme is for temporary support for AOV for those working in the sector. We realise that this provides short-term relief, but more is needed. The Creatieve Coalitie continues to work with Platform ACCT for more long-term support for affordable insurance for those working in the arts.

To make these schemes better in the future, we desperately need your input. We would therefore like to ask you to complete this survey.

3. Working towards a Sector Covenant

The Creative Coalitie exists to reach agreements with employers on working conditions in the sector. This is done at Platform ACCT, the so-called polder table of our sector. Preparatory work is currently being done for a ‘Sector Covenant’. A document with agreements for workers and employers on improving the labour market position of workers in the sector. 

The Arbeidsmarktagenda, has existed for several years now. It also contains the desire to reach agreements between employers and employees on improving working conditions in our sector. The artists’ remuneration directive is an outcome of that, but more is needed as corona measurements were the triggers to reach more agreements. The sector was unequally treated and compensated (fewer opportunities) the vulnerable position of those working in the sector became even more visible. Trickle down as the premise of the Covid Support has proved to hardly work. Agreements and responsibilities on Fair Practice remain non-committal and not adhered to.

In March 2022, the Creatieve Coalitie together with the Kunstenbond made a request to Platform ACCT to set up such a trajectory towards clear agreements. Platform ACCT responded to this call in October 2022, once it became apparent that there was a need for this among employer representatives. The initiative of the CC and the Kunstenbond for an overarching dialogue, should lead to a Sector Covenant, which removes the non-committal nature of Fair Practice. 

According to the CC, what should be in the kick-off agreement?

1. A more equal playing field for self-employed workers compared to employees. We want all costs (social benefits and voids (no assignments for a while)) to become part of a ZZP rate. We want to figure out how to avoid displacement of expensive workers by cheap workers.
2. Defining fair contract terms and fair pay (possibly with a minimum pay level and annual indexation). We will find out and define what fair contract terms and pay should consist of. For example, sufficient income for idleness, disability insurance, pension, etc. 
3. Bridging funding social securities such as void, pension and disability schemes.
4.  The pricing of flex (more security for workers) We want a higher hourly or project rate for a contract of short duration and/or of few hours. 
5.  Countering false self-employment (from flex to permanent(er)) We want to explore how work, which is done in a way that should actually legally constitute an employment contract, can be offered as an employment contract.
6.  Exploring options for shared employment We want to find out whether a flex pool for certain professions, from which employers can draw flexibly and workers have a fixed income, is a good solution.
7. Sustainable careers through retraining pathways. We want to explore how the PPO fonds can continue to provide continuity through input from government, workers, work providers.
8. Setting up a sector fund (including O&O fund) We want to find out whether setting up a fund could be a good solution. A fund that: a.regulates the financing of training for employed people; b. takes on the financing of projects of work providers and Creative Coalition and all its partners; c.can apply for subsidies for projects at the Ministry of Social Affairs, European Social Fund, etc.
9.  For those who do not want to be covered by the Covenant: possibility of an opt-out We want to ensure that parts of us that are not part of the Sector Covenant or parts of agreements mentioned therein can make use of an opt-out. This may be possible, for example, for groups or individuals at the top end of the market (e.g. > €85,- pu).
10. Concrete agreements with the sector on resources to represent the interests of working people. We want to investigate how the sector can provide funds to promote the interests of workers, as agreed in collective agreements through employer contributions.
11. Enforcement and enforceability of agreements. We want to examine how hard agreements with checks, sanctions, fines can be agreed upon so that they are respected.

This process is now in full swing. We will continue to publish updates on our website.