Consultative body

Following the Second World War Frits Philips was one of the men responsible for setting up the Foundation of Labor (later to become the Social and Economic Council (SER)). It was during the meetings of this consultative body comprising employers, workers and Government that much of the social and economic policy of the post-war Netherlands was formed. It was also the place where conflicts were resolved that could otherwise have led to industrial unrest. In contrast to the situation in France and Germany, there were almost no strikes in the Netherlands in that period.

Social justice was of primary importance to Frits Philips, as was showing an interest in others. ‘ … I like to be there when someone is explaining something about how a machine or a piece of equipment works. It is a process during which many knowing glances are exchanged between that man and myself. Little things, maybe, but they matter to me, and perhaps they matter to the other man too.’

In addition, he was, for example, a member of the executive boards of the then Dutch Employers’ Associations and the Coal Board, a position in which he supervised the restructuring of the mines in South Limburg. In the Eindhoven area he was chairman of the local Manufacturers’ Circle, stimulated the setting up of a technical college (now Eindhoven University of Technology) and put his weight behind the modernization of the airport.