Cabinet wants stricter rules for posting labor migrants from other EU countries

The Dutch government aims to impose stricter regulations on labor migrants from outside the EU who are dispatched to the Netherlands via another EU member state. Minister Vijlbrief highlighted the increasing use of this 'loophole' to bypass Dutch regulations. Currently, labor migrants must have a work and residence permit to work in an EU country, but many are brought in through alternative routes. The government plans to require these migrants to work for three months in the EU country of entry before being dispatched to the Netherlands. Additionally, they must hold a residence permit valid for longer than their work duration in the Netherlands. Penalties for employers violating labor laws will increase significantly starting mid-next year. Other measures include prohibiting deductions from minimum wages for housing and banning the hiring of temporary workers in the meat sector by 2028. These proposals will be discussed in an upcoming parliamentary debate.