The Dutch parliament yesterday delayed taking a decision on whether to fullyliberalise the country’s domestic postal market in January 2008.
Under the government’s postal policy, TNT Post’s monopoly on letters under 50gis due to be abolished on December 31, 2007, enabling private competitors Sandd and Selektmail tocompete in the full postal market.
Dutch MPs debated an amendment by the Labour Party, which is part of thecoalition government, that would oblige postal operators to observe minimum social standards. Atpresent, Sandd and Selektmail pay their staff on the basis of mail volumes delivered, rather than abasic salary.
Labour MP Ferd Crone warned that his fraction might block the liberalisationbill if such a clause were not added to the legislation. Labour also wants a cap on the profitlevels than TNT Post is entitled to earn from its universal service.
Economic affairs secretary Frank Heemskerk said he was prepared to look at theissue of social standards after the summer recess, but this might also be solved before then bynegotiations between the companies and unions. He also signalled a compromise over capping Dutchstamp prices.
