Hiring and posting staff: Waadi registration and Waadi check

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Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK
Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK

Do you want to outsource or hire temporary staff in the Netherlands? You will have to deal with the Dutch Workers Allocation by Intermediaries Act, Waadi. This law states that agencies that provide personnel must register with the Business Register. And if you hire personnel through an agency, you must check whether the registration is correct. An incorrect registration may result in a fine for both parties.

Registration obligation Workers Allocation by Intermediaries Act

Do you offer staff as a paid intermediary? For example, you have a secondment company or a temp agency. The Waadi Act ( in Dutch: the Wet allocatie arbeidskrachten door intermediairs) states that you as a lender must register this business activity with the Business Register. This is called the Waadi registration. You can check with KVK whether you need to register.

Do the Waadi check if you hire personnel through an intermediary

If you make use of the services of an intermediary for hiring temporary staff, you are legally obliged to check if their registration in the Business Register is correct by doing the KVK Waadi check (in Dutch). If the company is not registered properly, you are not allowed to hire staff through them.

Protection of employees

The government wants to combat illegal labour and the exploitation of workers. That is the purpose of the Waadi Act. The obligation to register makes it easier to detect fraud. For example, illegal labour, sham constructions, excessive working hours, and underpayment. The Waadi registration provides better protection for employees and promotes fair competition. The Netherlands Labour Authority monitors compliance with the Waadi Act.

Hiring temp workers: check the agency

As a hirer, always check whether the employment agency complies with the law. There are employment agencies that do not work fairly. This can lead to employee exploitation and unfair competition. It can also have consequences for you. For example: if the temporary employment agency underpays the temporary workers who work for you, the workers can hold you liable. This falls under the chain liability for wages. You can limit the risk of liability. The Netherlands Labour Authority has a brochure available (in Dutch) to help you avoid chain liability for wages.

More certainty with the SNA quality mark

An employment agency with the SNA quality mark is included in the Labour Standards Register of the Labour Standards Foundation (Stichting Normering Arbeid, SNA, in Dutch). SNA checks all registered companies on a regular basis. If you hire staff from a company with the SNA quality mark, you limit the risk of liability for payroll taxes and VAT. In other words, if the payroll taxes and VAT for your hired staff are not paid, the Tax Administration cannot charge you. You must meet certain conditions (in Dutch).

Strike break: do not hire extra temp workers during a strike

Employees have the right to strike if they have an employment dispute with their employer. The Waadi Act states that in the event of a strike, lenders may not offer workers to replace striking employees. Temporary workers are not allowed to take over the work of strikers. This is called strike breaking and it is prohibited.

Questions relating to this article?

Please contact the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, KVK