Your Rights In The Netherlands

At inAxtion we pride ourselves on being more than an employment agency for engineers from across the EU coming to the Netherlands. We consider ourselves their family away from home. That’s why we think it’s important that our employees know their rights under the Collective Agreement For Temporary Workers. 

Published by the NNBU (the Dutch Association of Intermediary Organizations and Temporary Employment Agencies) the collective agreement sets out the rights for temporary workers in the Netherlands. With lots of technical information – and over 80 pages – we get a lot of questions on it from employees. 

Here’s our short guide to the main things you need to know about your rights in the Netherlands.

The phase system

In the phase system, the longer you work with us, the more rights you earn. The good news is that on 3rd January 2022, the phase system was shortened. Phase 1 and 2 now last a combined 52 weeks rather than 78 weeks. This means more security for you! 

Phases 1 and 2 involve flexible contract work. When the project ends, so does the employment. However, we try to minimize the gaps between contracts, so you can start work as soon as possible. Sometimes, the next project is already scheduled. 

Phase 3 lasts up to a maximum of 3 years and 6 agency work contracts. On successful completion, you enter phase 4 and a fixed permanent contract.

Pension agreement

As the saying goes: ‘Before you know it, you will be old’. Saving for retirement is a perk of being employed. 

From 1st July 2023, in the Netherlands, an employer enters into a pension agreement with employees – aged 18 and over – from day one of their employment. 

On request, your pension can be transferred to you in your home country upon retirement. The retirement age is 67. 

Holidays

With full-time employment – 40 hours per week– you’re entitled to 25 days off per year. 20 days are statutory vacation days and 5 are non-statutory vacations, which may be paid out. 

According to the NNBU’s collective agreement, every employee is entitled to a vacation allowance of 8.33 % of their actual wage. This is based on the number of days to be worked per year, including vacations and public holidays. It’s paid annually in the month of May.

Special leave

You’re also entitled to special leave for the following events (see Article 28 of the collective agreement for full details):

• giving official notice of your intended marriage
• your marriage or registered partnership 
• marriage or registered partnership of a (grand)child, brother, sister or parent
• death of the partner or a child 
• death of a brother or sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild
• attendance and/or organization of a funeral of a sibling, parent, grandparent, grandchild
• 5th, 25th and 40th wedding anniversaries
• 25 and 40 years of service
• 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th wedding anniversary of parents and grandparents
• exams to obtain a recognized professional qualification.

Healthcare and insurance

Having health insurance in place is mandatory for workers in the Netherlands. You can arrange it yourself, but we can help you set it up and arrange for the contributions to be collected directly from your wages.  If you’re not a registered citizen of the Netherlands, it can be difficult to see a doctor. We can help with that too. 

More than an employment agency

If you’re a worker from the EU and employed by inAxtion in the Netherlands, you can count on us to look after your rights, both inside and outside your employment. And if you have any questions – just ask!

Are you an inAxtion employee with a question about your rights in the Netherlands? Get in touch.