In September 2025, SNCU (Stichting Naleving CAO Uitzendbureaus), the Dutch collective labor agreement compliance watchdog, published an analysis of oversight in the Dutch temporary employment sector. The report found that a significant proportion of agencies operate without quality certification.
SNCU Findings
SNCU's analysis found that of approximately 16,000 active temporary employment agencies in the Netherlands, only 4,859 held voluntary quality certification. The remaining agencies operate without this certification, which is intended to ensure compliance with collective labor agreement standards.
SNCU Director Jaap Buis stated that "a significant group of companies operates under the radar, increasing the risk of abuses." The organization called for stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance across the sector.
Inspection Data
The Dutch Labour Inspectorate has found high violation rates when inspections are conducted. According to SNCU, between 33% and 70% of employment agencies receive fines when inspected. This suggests that non-compliance is common in the sector.
Fairwork Experience
Dutch NGO Fairwork reported filing 131 reports of underpayment with the Dutch Labour Inspectorate over three years, with no cases resulting in back pay for workers. The inspectorate reportedly stated that recovering wages was not its responsibility. Fairwork described seeking justice for underpaid migrants as "an almost impossible task."
WTTA Licensing Law
The new WTTA licensing law, approved in November 2025, is intended to address the oversight gap. From January 2027, all agencies will be required to obtain a license, with a €100,000 security deposit and fines of up to €90,000 for operating without a license. Whether this will be sufficient to ensure compliance remains to be seen.
