The Wtta: stricter rules for hiring temporary workers

The government wants stricter controls on of businesses in the temporary employment market. These are employment agencies and other lenders of staff such as secondment agencies and payroll companies. Too often, agencies do not follow the rules or there are problems in the sector. From 2027, the new Wtta law will apply. This means you will have to be even more careful about who you do business with.

What is the Wtta?

Wtta stands for Wet toelating terbeschikkingstelling van arbeidskrachten (Provision of Personnel Accreditation Act). This act applies to employment agencies and other businesses that hire out workers. This includes temporary employment agencies that are based abroad, but provide workers to companies in the Netherlands, if the workers work in the Netherlands. These businesses will have to follow strict rules, or they will not be allowed to operate.

For years, there have been serious problems in the temporary employment sector. Problems particularly affect migrants who come to the Netherlands to work temporarily. They are often underpaid, work too many hours, or are forced to live in sub-standard accommodation. The Wtta aims to prevent these poor conditions.

Read more about the Wtta on the website of the Nederlandse Autoriteit Uitleenmarkt (the Netherlands Authority for the Labour Supply Market, NAU).

When will the Wtta take effect?

The law takes effect on 1 January 2027, but during the first year, there will be no checks to ensure that businesses are complying with the rules. Between 1 May and 30 June 2027, businesses can register (in Dutch) with the NAU. The NAU will have inspection agencies verify whether lenders comply with the rules. If they do, the NAU will include them in a public register.

When will you be affected by the Wtta?

• The NAU will open the register in July 2027. In it, you can look up which employment agencies and other businesses are allowed to hire out staff.
• From 1 January 2028, businesses will only be allowed to provide temporary workers if they have a license or exemption from the NAU, or if they are covered by the transitional arrangement.
• From 1 January 2028, the Netherlands Labour Authority will enforce the Wtta. The Authority will check whether businesses that hire out workers are in the NAU register. If they are not, they will be fined.

As an entrepreneur, can I also be fined?

Yes. If you hire workers, the Wtta will only allow you to work with lenders who are in the NAU register. So you will have to check whether an agency is in the register before you work with them. Is that not the case? Then you are not allowed to hire staff through that business. If you do, you can be fined as well.