About UWV (Employee Insurance Agency)
The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) manages various employee insurance schemes in the Netherlands. These insurance schemes protect employees if they lose income because they cannot work.
On this page
UWV operates on behalf of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. It supports employees who are temporarily out of work or who are unable to work due to illness or incapacity for work. In addition, UWV provides information on the labour market and services to employers.
You will find various articles on Business.gov.nl which UWV has contributed to.
What does UWV do?
UWV manages schemes for employees facing unemployment, illness, or incapacity for work. These include, for example:
- Unemployment Benefits Act (Werkloosheidswet, WW)
- Work and Income according to Labour Capacity Act (Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen, WIA)
- Sickness Benefits Act (Ziektewet, ZW)
- Work and Care Act (Wet arbeid en zorg, WAZO)
- Invalidity Insurance Act for Young Disabled Persons (Wet arbeidsongeschiktheidsvoorziening jonggehandicapten, Wajong)
In certain situations, UWV assesses whether someone is entitled to benefits.
UWV and entrepreneurs
If you employ staff, you may have to deal with UWV. For example:
- If an employee falls ill and becomes unable to work, you report both the illness and recovery to UWV.
- If you need to dismiss employees for business reasons, you need permission from UWV.
- If you want to employ a foreign employee, you sometimes need a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning, TWV). You apply for this at UWV.
- When employing people who have difficulty finding work, for instance people who have occupational limitations, as an employer, you may be eligible for Labour Costs Compensation(Loonkostenvoordeel, LKV).
- For pregnant employees you apply for maternity pay, or the WAZO benefit with UWV.
Or, if you do not have any employees:
- Perhaps you started your business while receiving benefits from UWV.
- Freelancers can take out a voluntary illness and disability insurance with UWV.
- Pregnant freelancers can apply for the Maternity Benefit Scheme for the Self-Employed (Zelfstandig en Zwangerregeling, ZEZ).
Find more information for employers in English on the UWV website.