Fair pay in your organization
Fair pay is a key theme in the cultural and creative sector. As an employer or client, you want to compensate people appropriately. FairPACCT assists you with concrete guidelines and tools.
Why is fair pay important?
Do you know why fair pay is important? It is simple: those who are fairly compensated feel valued. As an employer and client, you benefit from this, as people remain with your organization longer or are happy to return. They also become increasingly skilled in their profession. And the more people develop within the sector, the more resilient it becomes.
Get started with our guidelines and tools
Through its ‘ketentafels’ (sector tables), fairPACCT develops concrete guidelines and tools to help you as an employer or client apply fair pay when no collective labor agreement (CAO) is in place. This includes salary tables and calculation tools for freelancer rates, specifically tailored to your field. These provide guidance when creating budgets and grant applications, as well as during negotiations with (new) employees and freelancers.
Fair pay guidelines create a level playing field in which creative professionals can charge appropriate rates. This provides space to continue growing in the profession and promotes the flow of talent. In this way, we strengthen the entire chain and make the sector resilient together. This is in the interest of us all, because the connecting, inspiring role that arts and culture play is of invaluable importance to society.
Independent and well-founded
The guidelines and tools developed by FairPACCT are created with the help of independent researchers. Together, we map out how the subsectors and professional practices are structured.
We describe types of assignments, activities, and roles. Based on this, we develop tools and guidelines for salaries, freelancer rates, and additional compensation or provisions. You can therefore be certain that they have been established in an independent and well-founded manner.
Join the search for financing solutions
No matter how much you want to, in practice it is not always possible to offer appropriate compensation. Not yet. But if we want to make the sector resilient, fair pay is a prerequisite. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) has allocated extra funds for this as of 2025.
Together with the sector, we are looking for ways to improve the affordability of fair pay. We haven’t found them today. And perhaps not tomorrow either. We are tackling the problem step by step. Together. In the full conviction that we can do this together. Will you join us?
Choose your field:
This is what FairPACCT meant to them:
I actually find it no more than normal and common decency that you want to pay someone fairly."
Sjoerd Berendsen, Director of Kleinkunstig.
"This step that has now been taken sector-wide towards fair compensation is not going to stop again."
Annabet Langkamp, business director Kaboom Animation Film Festival.
Frequently asked questions
What is fair pay?
Fair pay means: appropriate compensation for work. It is not just about pay, but also about matters such as training, disability insurance, and pensions. You can read more about this topic on our fair pay page. Alternatively, visit the Fair Practice Code website to learn more about fair pay, fair share, and fair chain. Three principles that are interwoven through all the values of the Fair Practice Code.
How do I determine a fair rate?
There are several tools you can use to arrive at a fair rate. For instance, you can use the CAO-to-freelancer-rate calculation tool, or use the calculation tool/tables if they are available for your specific subsector. Here you will find an overview of all calculation tools and tables developed by fairPACCT.
The most important thing is to account for fair pay in your budget. Be transparent about this, including when applying for grants. Here you will find more useful tips on how to take fair practice into account during your grant application.
Why are the rates different for each subsector?
Each subsector has conducted its own independent research and created appropriate practical instruments based on that. Niet elke sector heeft een rekentool, maar er zijn ook tarief en salaristabellen. Neem een kijkje bij de deelsector en zie wat er allemaal al is. Deze worden regelmatig bijgewerkt.
How can I contribute to fair pay as an employer?
Lees de Fair Practice Gids bij het maken van begrotingen. Let op subsidie- of aanbestedingsvoorwaarden. Zoek elkaar op via een beroepsorganisatie of werkgeversvereniging om oneerlijke concurrentie ten koste van goede arbeidsvoorwaarden en fair pay te voorkomen.
Also take a look at the Federatie Cultuur. Or sign up as a member of the Creatieve Coalitie.
What is a practical instrument?
Practical instruments are developed by a sector table, potentially with the help of external research agencies. A practical instrument usually concerns fair pay and can take the form of a best practice, a conceptual framework (with definitions), a manual, a fee guideline, or a proposal for (collective) agreements. You can find all practical instruments in this overview. Or check the page of the relevant subsector under the heading ‘tools and downloads’.
What is a chain table?
A chain table is a discussion forum. At this table, workers and employers are divided into subsectors. An overview of all recent chain tables can be found here. In addition to workers and employers, vocational training programs and intermediaries also participate. Together, they make proposals for better working conditions and develop practical instruments, such as rate guidelines.
What does FairPACCT do?
It is a program of Platform ACCT and is subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), at least until 2028. FairPACCT aims to translate the Fair Practice Code (specifically fair pay) into concrete tools for practical application. This is done per subsector with the help of a so-called chain table.
The role of fairPACCT is facilitating and guiding. The chain tables are supervised for several years by the fairPACCT team and an (independent) chair.
Who creates, manages, and further develops the tables and calculation tools with fair pay salaries and freelancer rates?
Fair pay salaries and freelancer rates are established based on independent research, surveys, and consultations. Bureau IPSIS then provides the corresponding tables and online calculation tools. FairPACCT and the chain tables handle the management and ensure further development. This includes taking into account a (semi-)annual indexation of salaries and freelancer rates.