The Netherlands Labour Authority is responsible for monitoring whether employers and employees comply with various labour laws, decrees and regulations. It also investigates labour exploitation, human trafficking and fraud and organised crime within the employment and income sector. In the field of social affairs and employment, it identifies developments and risks and reports them to stakeholders.

Supervisory duties

The Netherlands Labour Authority monitors compliance with the following laws and regulations:

  • The Foreign Nationals (Employment) Act (Wet arbeid vreemdelingen), the Minimum Wage and Minimum Holiday Allowance Act (Wet minimumloon en minimumvakantiebijslag) and the Placement of Personnel by Intermediaries Act (Wet allocatie arbeidskrachten door intermediairs), with a view to combating illegal employment, evasion of the minimum wage, labour exploitation, abusive employment mediation practices and other forms of labour market fraud.
  • The Working Conditions Act (Arbeidsomstandighedenwet) and the Working Hours Act (Arbeidstijdenwet) in order to promote safe and healthy working conditions and ensure observance of working hours and break times for employees.
  • The Seveso ІІІ Directive, as included in the Physical Environment (Activities) Decree (Besluit Activiteiten Leefomgeving, Bal) and the Additional Risk Assessment and Evaluation (Aanvullende risico-inventarisatie en -evaluatie, ARIE) Regulation. To minimise the risks to employees and the surrounding area of companies that handle large quantities of hazardous substances.
  • The Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals Regulation (REACH Regulation) to control the risks of chemicals in the context of industrial and professional use in the workplace.
  • The Posted Workers in the European Union (Working Conditions) Act (Wet arbeidsvoorwaarden gedetacheerde werknemers in de Europese Unie, WagwEU).
  • The Plant Protection Products and Biocides Act (Wet gewasbeschermingsmiddelen en biociden).
  • The Nuclear Energy Act (Kernenergiewet) to protect workers from radiation risks.
  • A number of Commodities Act decrees governing the safety of products for the professional market.
  • The Economic Offences Act (Wet op de economische delicten).
  • The Authority is also responsible for monitoring compliance with collective labour agreements.

Investigative duties

The Authority's tasks also include investigating, for example, labour exploitation, human trafficking and large-scale social security fraud. The Labour Authority's investigations are directed by the Public Prosecution Service.

Identification duties

The Netherlands Labour Authority reports information on developments and risks in the field of social affairs and employment to relevant stakeholders.