The bill was passed by the House of Representatives in May 2023 with broad support. However, some adjustments were made, such as an exemption for organizations with fewer than ten employees and quality requirements for confidential advisors. Since then, the proposal has been with the Senate, where the process has been delayed due to critical questions raised in July 2023 by parties including BBB, VVD, D66, and Volt. These questions have not yet been fully answered.
Additionally, the initiator Maatoug (GroenLinks) has since left the House of Representatives. It remains unclear which member of parliament will now defend the proposal in the Senate, complicating further progress.
The LVV petition is a formal part of the parliamentary process but does not constitute an immediate change in the law. The proposal is still under consideration. If the Senate decides to label the proposal as controversial, the process will be suspended until after the elections and the formation of a new cabinet.
With the petition, the LVV emphasizes the urgency of legally embedding confidential advisors in the workplace. Still, it remains uncertain if and when the proposal will be further processed. Political clarity is awaited for the time being.