Photo: VNG / Publication: 2024-08-01
Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration; this is even stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Unfortunately, in the practice of the Dutch cultural sector, this is often not the case. With the guidance and tips from the handbook by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and Platform ACCT / fairPACCT, municipalities can put this into practice. This can be applied within various roles and across diverse domains.
Underpaid staff, unpaid overtime, improper use of volunteers; it all occurs in the cultural sector. Sometimes even with excesses such as exploitation. Municipalities can take action against this, and to help them on their way, the VNG, in collaboration with Platform ACCT / fairPACCT, is publishing the guide ‘Invaluable – Fair pay in the local creative and cultural sector’.
Value of culture
Culture should be attractive, reachable, and accessible for all residents, as stated by the VNG in the proposition ‘Securing culture together’. Culture connects, inspires, and is a source of pleasure. With culture, you can make a difference in the development of people, from young to old. And that simply comes with a price tag.
Future-proof sector
Culture is an essential part of local facilities, but its future is at stake. Therefore, it is important to take the cultural offering seriously and to compensate creators fairly. Especially the local government, as the largest financier, must work towards a fair cultural playing field. And this does not have to be grand and sweeping immediately. It can be done through various actions, which the VNG and Platform ACCT / fairPACCT have mapped out together.
Obligation
The principle of fair pay is not optional. The collective labor agreements (CAOs) for a number of subsectors make fair compensation mandatory for several organizations in the cultural sector. Thanks to the collaboration with Platform ACCT / fairPACCT, the guide provides insight into those CAOs and fair pay practical tools from fairPACCT. They play a role when the municipality acts as a subsidy provider. Administrative agreements and national policy mean that fair pay is actually already an obligation, including for municipalities. It helps enormously if those municipalities can refer the sector to the practical tools.
Finances
The guide also provides an explanation of the costs associated with the obligation regarding fair pay. It is a tense development, because with a static budget, fair pay can come at the expense of the cultural offering. Other financial sources are often difficult to find and are not structural. The finances simply have to come from somewhere.
Webinar
On Thursday, October 10, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, the VNG and Platform ACCT / fairPACCT are organizing a webinar to explain the guide, where municipalities are welcome to be informed on this subject and can learn how they can apply fair pay in the local cultural and creative sector. More information will follow.
