Offering work to Ukrainian refugees

Many Dutch businesses face employee shortages in the current labour market (in Dutch). And the hospitality sector, that had to close for months due to corona restrictions, still needs more staff. Offering work to refugees can be a (temporary) solution to the employee shortage. Around 9,600 refugees from Ukraine are currently based in the Netherlands.

Work allowed sooner

When you hire foreign personnel, there are rules and regulations you must follow. One rule is that asylum seekers are not allowed to work for 6 months after they arrive in the Netherlands. But the Temporary protection directive ('tijdelijke beschermingsrichtlijn') makes it possible for Ukrainian refugees to stay in the EU for 3 years without having to apply for asylum. It also allows them to work in the Netherlands sooner. 

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) indicates that SME employers who are interested can contact the employers’ service point (in Dutch) in their municipality.

Information on procedures

There are specific conditions (in Dutch) to protect the vulnerable group of Ukrainian refugees in the labour market. For example, they are only allowed to work as an employee. The employer must also register the employee with the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) no later than 2 working days before the start of employment and provide extra information, such as the working hours and the workplace. 

The relevant authorities keep the information on procedures concerning job offers and doing business with Ukraine and Russia up to date as much as possible. Read the latest information:

• werk.nl (in Dutch): Hiring foreign employees and work permits.
• IND: Ukraine: effects on stay or application for Ukrainians and Russians.
• Dutch Council for Refugees (Vluchtelingenwerk) (in Dutch): Offering work to Ukrainians, what are the rules?
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO: State of affairs Ukraine-Russia: what is the impact on doing business?
  
• Dutch Council for Refugees (Vluchtelingenwerk) (in Dutch): Checklist work and refugees.
  
• Rijksoverheid (in Dutch): Permits for international staff.
• Rijksoverheid (in Dutch): Work and income for refugees from Uktraine.
  

Work permit

If you want to hire an employee from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you normally need a special work permit. There are 2 types: the TWV and the GVVA. This last one is a combined permit: both residence and work.

The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has confirmed a special exemption that means refugees from Ukraine do not need a work permit. Employees will still be obliged to report when they hire Ukrainian refugees. The new rules (in Dutch) started on 1 April 2022. The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) provides more information on the current situation and work permits.

Hiring Ukrainian refugees

There are several ways to hire Ukrainian refugees. If you need help, contact the employers’ service point (in Dutch) in your municipality. Do you have several branch offices? You can also check the website of the national service point LandelijkWerkgeversServicepoint (in Dutch) for a list of advisors per business sector. You can support Ukrainian refugees by offering them work via the Dutch Refugee Council (Vluchtelingenwerk) (in Dutch) website, or engage the services of temp agencies that specialise in mediating on behalf of Eastern European employees.

Offering work on a freelance basis

Do you want to offer a work assignment to a Ukrainian refugee as a self-employed person? If so, you must apply for a work permit (TWV) for them. Read about the requirements for registering a Ukrainian refugee in the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce KVK Business Register.

These employers hired Ukrainian refugees

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