The Netherlands Labour Authority has been celebrating its 135th anniversary throughout 2025. Its history is reflected vividly in the book entitled 'Humans are not machines' (Een mens is geen machine) which is the result of nearly 2 years of archive research by historian Timon de Groot. The book paints a picture of the Netherlands since the mid-19th century and of how work and work-related risks have developed over the years. One of the common threads in the book is collective action - by companies, inspectors, science and politicians. The book demonstrates that insights into existing and new occupational risks and prevention always come about through interaction between those parties. That tried-and-tested approach is set to continue in 2026.
Cross-border arrangements
Next year is also going to be the year when the European Commission, and more specifically Executive Vice President Roxana Mînzatu, is intending to launch its 'Fair Labour Mobility Package'. This package is expected to include measures to strengthen the mandate of the European Labour Authority (ELA) which was founded in late 2019 and has been based in Bratislava, Slovakia since 2021. Although one of the tasks of the ELA is to provide information on working in other countries, by far its most important achievement is the 'concerted and joint inspections' it organises, which enable inspectorate services from different member states to work together to monitor and tackle fraud and abuse. More than 100 of these inspections now take place every year.
Cross-border arrangements that exploit wage differentials or the different rules that apply in each member state usually exist for monetary gain and are frequently detrimental to workers. The labour market no longer operates just at local and national level and is instead becoming increasingly international. Given its open economy and large population of migrant workers, the Netherlands has a strong interest in effective cooperation with services in other countries to help combat abuse and ensure a level playing field. The Commission is expected to put forward proposals to strengthen the ELA's mandate so that it can also target sham arrangements involving the posting of workers from outside the European Union. This is a group which is particularly vulnerable in today's climate.
Given the issues outlined in reports by the Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid), the Advisory Council on Migration (Adviesraad Migratie), the National Rapporteur on human trafficking (Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel) and the Interministerial Policy Review (Interdepartementaal Beleidsonderzoek), any move to improve compliance and cooperation in the Netherlands and the EU is more than welcome. Future collective action will therefore increasingly include cooperation with sister organisations in other EU countries.
Netherlands Labour Ahthority in 2026
This 2026 Annual Plan looks ahead to the 4th and final year of implementation of the 2023-2026 Multi-Year Plan (Dutch) which outlines a 4-year trajectory based on an analysis of labour risks and an assessment of labour market trends and developments. The document also clearly defines the Authority's duties, which are to monitor compliance with labour laws and the effectiveness of measures to guarantee everyone's socio-economic security. Another is to take enforcement action where necessary and identify developments and bottlenecks.
Surveillance will continue to be organised via 11 programmes next year on topics including asbestos, exposure to hazardous substances, sham arrangements, temporary employment agencies, pressure of work and undesirable conduct, CE marking and discrimination at work. The Authority also receives thousands of notifications and reports each year from employers, the public, employees or other departments. Our Reporting and Information Centre (Meldingen Informatie Centrum) is responsible for registration, assessment and follow-up, including forwarding to our investigators if a criminal investigation is deemed necessary.
Over the next 6 months, we will be working on a new analysis of labour risks and an assessment of labour market trends and developments and a new 2027-2030 Multi-Year Plan. This will contain a medium-term concrete elaboration of our mission, which for now remains unchanged and is based on fair, healthy and safe work and socio-economic security for everyone.
If you would like to respond to our plans, you can do so via jaarplan@nlarbeidsinspectie.nl.
Read the 2026 Annual Plan (Dutch)
Rits de Boer,
Netherlands Labour Authority Inspector General