Law to tackle exploitive employment agencies delayed until 2026

The law to tackle employment agencies that exploit migrant workers has been delayed until at least January 2026. Justus, the implementing agency that must ensure that temporary employment agencies adhere to the new requirements, is not yet ready to start, the Ministry of Social Affairs informed parliament, the Telegraaf reports. The Labor Inspectorate will likely only start enforcing the new rules in 2027.

Jurrien Koops of the ABU, the association for temporary employment agencies, is disappointed by the delay. Former Minister Karien van Gennip did “her utmost to do something about these bastards,” he told the newspaper. “But it is sad that the law that should improve the quality in the temporary employment sector has been delayed by at least a year.”

Admission to the Supply of Labor Act stipulates that temporary employment agencies have to submit a Certificate of Good Conduct and pay a deposit of 100,000 euros before they can start operating and recruiting workers from abroad. They must also demonstrate that they pay their workers according to the law, pay their taxes and social security contributions, and provide adequate housing. Van Gennip hoped that these requirements would make exploitation unprofitable.

Trade unions and employers’ organizations are also frustrated by the delay. Trade union FNV wants to use the law to force a cultural change among employers who use temporary workers, vice chairman Zakaria Boufangacha told the newspaper. “Nothing has changed for migrant workers since the publication of the Roemer report,” Boufangacha said, referring to the report by Emile Roemer four years ago that exposed the widespread exploitation of migrant workers by employment agencies.

“For heaven’s sake, let’s not wait until 2026,” said Jacco Vonhof of MKB Nederland, the association that represents employers with small- and medium-sized enterprises. “Tackle that enforcement. I hope the new Cabinet will put more pressure on it. Give the Labor Inspectorate more manpower. It is now far too easy to enrich yourself at the expense of migrant workers.”

The Labor Inspectorate told the Telegraaf that enforcement is the final step and change must first come from the sector itself. “We will have 90 additional full-time employees to carry out more inspections when the law comes into effect,” a spokesperson said. “In the meantime, we will continue with our approach.”