# Agricultural services staff join senior scheme a year later

> From 1 January 2027, employees under the agricultural business services collective agreement can join the senior scheme four years before state pension age instead of five. Those who want the current terms must choose before that date.

Economy · published 2026-11-12 05:43 · https://nlnow.nl/a/senior-scheme-for-agricultural-services-staff-starts-later-in-2027/

The senior scheme (seniorenregeling) in the collective labour agreement (cao) for agricultural business services changes on 1 January 2027, the unions FNV and CNV and the employers' association Werkgeversvereniging AB Nederland say. Employees will be able to enter it four years before they reach their state pension (AOW) age. Until now, the entry point has been five years before.

**Why it matters**

- From 1 January 2027, staff can use the senior scheme from four years before state pension age, not five.
- Employees who want to join five years before state pension age must make that choice before 1 January 2027.
- A new senior scheme for relief workers (bedrijfsverzorgers) is being introduced alongside the change.

The new scheme lets relief workers (bedrijfsverzorgers) work less while keeping most of their pay. They work 80% of their original hours and receive 90% of their original salary.

Pension saving continues in full under the new scheme. The pension contribution is 100% of a new pension basis, calculated on 80% working time and 90% salary. The premium, and how it is split between employer and employee, are those of BPL Pensioen.

The FNV says employees who qualify for the senior scheme can read an explanatory document to see what the changes mean for their salary, pension and personal situation. It says they can also discuss with their manager which scheme applies to them.

## Background

- **cao (collectieve arbeidsovereenkomst)**: A collective labour agreement (cao) is a written agreement between employers' associations and trade unions that sets pay and working conditions for a whole sector or company group. Its terms apply to employees in that sector, whether or not they are union members. A cao is usually agreed for a fixed period and covers matters such as wages, working hours, holidays and pensions.
- **AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet)**: The AOW is the Dutch state old-age pension, a basic pension paid by the state to people who have lived or worked in the Netherlands. It is paid from the AOW age, and the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) administers it. Most people also build up a supplementary pension through their employer, which is separate from the AOW.
- **BPL Pensioen**: BPL Pensioen is the Dutch industry-wide pension fund for the agricultural sector, which provides supplementary pensions for employees in agricultural businesses covered by its scheme. It sets the pension premium and how that premium is shared between employer and employee for the businesses it covers. Its rules apply on top of the state pension (AOW).

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