The Dutch government is increasing efforts to address the problem of illegal workers from outside the European Union (EU).
Employers and job agencies breaking employment laws could face stricter punishments, including prison time, instead of just fines.
Illegal employment of non-EU workers is increasing in the Netherlands.
Inspectors recently found 20 Georgian workers illegally employed at a greenhouse in Westland. The employer and recruitment agency were fined hundreds of thousands of euros.
Chief Inspector Marijke Kaptein noted a worrying trend: European workers no longer meet the demand for low-skilled labor, leading employers to hire from outside the EU.
Currently, 600,000 to 800,000 foreign workers hold low-skilled jobs in the Netherlands, with 40,000 to 50,000 added each year.
Many of these workers face exploitation. They live in overcrowded housing and risk losing their jobs if they become ill, according to the Dutch labor inspectorate.
Efforts to stop exploitation are becoming more urgent. A licensing system for job agencies is in progress but likely won’t start until next year.
Meanwhile, unlicensed agencies continue to operate freely, often exploiting vulnerable non-EU workers.
Kaptein emphasized that policymakers must make key decisions about balancing economic growth and sustainability.
“We are a low-wage country with a dense concentration of activity in small areas. This is not sustainable....
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