Labor union: concerns about wages PhD students

Labor Union CNV is worried about PhD students. If a proposal by Dutch Secretary of State Halbe Zijlstra (Higher Education) is accepted, PhD students will no longer be seen as employees, or research staff members, but as students.

A PhD employee earns between 2042 and 2612 euros gross per month. Under the new plans, a PhD student will receive a scholarship similar to a student grant. With this budget students are also supposed to pay for tuition and buy books. “It means that PhD students will end up under the social mininum (around 800 euros per month). Because this will not be enough to cover cost of  living, doctoral students will become dependent on an additional grant, a job or their parents. Another important financial aspect is that PhD students will miss out on at least four years of pension build-up and other social security programs (in cases of  illness, disability and unemployment). Other countries, like Belgium, have already taken measures for PhD students”, the union says.

CNV Public Affairs would like to see that the Dutch parliament makes additional agreements about the PhD employee to PhD student introduction. It could be by making clear legal definitions of PhD employees PhD students. A grant that can offer doctoral students at least a socially acceptable level of living is also needed. In addition, the PhD students have to get a social security provision for pension, illness, disability and unemployment.

The Dutch parliament will debate about the Strategic Agenda for Higher Education today. [MW/transl. YV]