News item | 29-01-2025 | 08:00
From 1 February 2025, the Dutch Labor Inspectorate can impose higher fines on employers who employ migrants illegally. Companies that put employees from outside the European Union without permit risk a fine that can amount to 11,250 euros per labor. The fine is currently a maximum of 8,000 euros. From now on, higher fines will be imposed when illegal work is accompanied by taking passports, poor housing or other serious circumstances. The maximum penalty amount of 11,250 euros will apply if these serious violations have been intentionally committed.
Minister Eddy van Hijum of Social Affairs and Employment: “In a civilized country as the Netherlands, we have to treat work migrants more decently. Many abuses come through rogue employment agencies and their hirers who have made a revenue model of underpayment of labor and offering under -size housing. Labor migrants Working here without a permit are the most vulnerable because it is more difficult for them to ring the bell.
From 1 February, the Dutch Labor Inspectorate can impose fines of between 2,250 euros and 11,250 euros per worker in illegal employment. Until recently, the standard fine for the violation of the Aliens Work Act was 8,000 euros per illegally employed labor force. The Council of State states in a ruling that more must be taken into account of the degree of culpability, so that an employer who deliberately breaks the law receives a higher fine than an employer who commits the same violation once and not intentionally. The fine will also be increased if the violation is accompanied by abuses such as poor employment conditions, poor housing and taking passports from the labor migrants.
Research into higher fines
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is currently investigating all fines in the field of honest work. In the Netherlands, for example, all employers must ensure that an employee receives the minimum wage and the legally determined holiday pay. If an employer does not keep an insight into these labor laws, a fine of the Dutch Labor Inspectorate follows.
The research looks at the effectiveness of the fine height and at the reasons of employers to comply with the labor laws. It is also investigated whether higher fines make it less attractive for employers to break the labor laws. After the investigation, it is considered per labor law whether the fines should be adjusted.