Multi-sector recruiter Randstad has agreed to sell parts of its Dutch HR Services portfolio to IT service provider Raet.

The activities involved offer salary administration and payroll services to the education sector in the Netherlands, providing revenue of roughly €18m (£15.5m) in 2008.

This is the second divestment from the HR Services portfolio in the Netherlands. In June, the payroll services of Gamma Dienstverlening, active in the healthcare market (revenue in 2008, roughly €10m [£8.6m]), were also sold to Raet.

Randstad has reviewed growth ambitions and potential for the payroll administration business, citing:

• a shift in strategic focus as a result of the Vedior merger
• price pressure in basic payroll services
• a slower than expected trend towards outsourcing in the Netherlands
• not helped either by the downturn

The transactions make up 60% of the Dutch salary administration and payroll activities and Randstad is considering the options for the remaining 40% of the

HR Services portfolio. Randstad says this process does not impact payrolling activities where Randstad is also the legal employer, such as P/flex, nor does it impact

payrolling activities in other countries.

This agreement is subject to approval from the works councils, and the impact of this deal and the related overall process is expected not to have a material impact on Randstad’s earnings nor on its financial ratios, Randstad adds.