Trial placement unemployed or people partially fit for work
Are you an employer in the Netherlands and do you want to hire someone who is unemployed or partially fit for work? If you are not sure this person is suitable for the job, you can offer them an unpaid 2 month trial placement (proefplaatsing).
During the trial placement period, the intended employees keep their unemployment benefit. If you are satisfied with their performance during this period, you can offer them an employment contract at the end of the trial period. This employment contract cannot include another trial period. The Employee Insurance Agency (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen, UWV) must agree to the trial placement. You can make use of a job coach.
Conditions for a trial placement
- The prospective employee must already receive a benefit from UWV (WAO, WIA, WAZ, Wajong or Sickness benefit (Ziektewet), or unemployment benefit (WW or IOW).
- The prospective employee has not previously worked for you in the same role.
- You must take out liability insurance for the employee for the duration of the trial placement.
- The trial placement lasts 2 months.
- You must have the intention to offer the prospective employee a position for at least 6 months after the trial placement. This position involves the same number of work hours as during the trial or more hours.
There are also some limitations to trial placements:
- Employees in the education sector who receive unemployment benefit must request permission from UWV before they can accept a trial placement.
- Trial placements are not possible in the transport sector. Because a trial is not a recognised employment, drivers cannot get a declaration of employment. They need this to be able to work.
Longer trial placement
Do you need more than 2 months to see if the intended employee would be able to meet the job requirements? In some cases you can apply for an extended trial placement period, up to a maximum of 6 months. For instance, if the employee can only work 1 day per week because of their handicap. You can apply for a longer trial placement in the regular application form.
How to apply?
You and the intended employee can request a trial placement from UWV.
Online tool Financial CV
For some employees you can use financial schemes. Use the online tool ‘Financial CV’ (in Dutch) to see which financial scheme you can use and to get an indication of the amount of the benefit.