A majority in the Lower House agrees to a curfew, but wants it to take effect at 9pm instead of 8.30pm (which the cabinet proposed). There are many questions among cleaning companies. This was evident during a corona update given by Schoonmakend Nederland to just over 30 companies via video call.
The curfew will start at 9pm on Saturday 23 January and last until 4.30am on Wednesday 10 February. Then you will only be allowed to go outside it is necessary. “This is only allowed in case of an emergency, if yourself, a needy person or an animal needs urgent (medical) assistance, if your employer requires you to go outside for work, if you are travelling abroad or returning to the Netherlands, if you are travelling in connection with a funeral and can prove this, if you are travelling in connection with a summons by a judge, prosecutor or objection or appeal hearing and can prove this or if you are walking a leashed dog. You do this on your own.”
Forms made available
The central government makes forms available at www.rijksoverheid.nl/avondklok. “You are not supposed to make your own forms.” If someone finds it necessary to go out, they should carry an Own Declaration form curfew. “In case of an emergency, returning from abroad and walking a dog, you do not need a form. If you are travelling to the Netherlands, you do need to show that you are coming from abroad (e.g. with a ticket) and explain why you are travelling during curfew. If it is necessary for you to go out for work, you must also show an employer's statement. You should ask your employer for this.”
Feasibility of enforcement
A cleaner who has to work during curfew must complete a self-declaration, as well as an employer's declaration stating the reason. An employee fills in the self-declaration himself; the employer's declaration must come from a supervisor. The latter must be signed. Anyone who stays on the street without a reason can be fined 95 euros. “Falsifying a statement is considered a crime,” Rommelse explained. “The starting point for the declarations is the feasibility of enforcement.”
Employer determines whether work is necessary
Of particular note is the fact that it is up to the employer to determine whether the work is necessary during that time of curfew. Rommelse: “There is no checklist of work you can check against. The employer's statement can generically state that a cleaner has to do cleaning work somewhere during curfew on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, for example. You can state that for a longer period, up to the end of curfew. The daily declaration, with a date on it, is made by the employee. Per day, just like a citizen. The forms, once available, can be downloaded from www.rijksoverheid.nl/avondklok.”
English (UK)