Dutch meat industry still underpaying migrant workers
Staffing agencies operating in the Dutch meat industry have again been found guilty of underpaying migrant workers, according to RTL. Two recent rulings by the Gelderland District Court reveal that temporary employment agencies must pay significant compensation to workers assigned to a major pork slaughterhouse and meat products manufacturer.
In the first case, a migrant worker was employed from 2016 to October 2023 at the same meat processing company through various staffing firms. Between November 2021 and October 2023, he worked through one specific agency. In November 2021, that agency placed him in a wage category intended for new hires, despite the fact that he had already worked for the same meat processor for three years through that very agency.
As a result of this misclassification, the worker missed out on nearly 9,000 euros in wages, nearly 1,000 euros in vacation hours, and more than 800 euros in holiday pay. The court ruled that all of these amounts must be paid to him. In addition, he is owed more than 3,000 euros in unpaid short-time compensation, known as arbeidsduurverkorting. This arrangement involves working more hours than contracted, with the surplus later compensated in the form of paid time off or additional pay.
In a second case, also ruled on by the Gelderland court, another migrant worker began working at the same meat processor through a different staffing agency in August 2019. That agency repeatedly offered him temporary contracts: first in February 2020, then in March 2021, from September 2021 to March 2022, followed by two additional six-month contracts, and finally from March through August 2023.
Throughout this period, he worked continuously at the same meat company. Prior to working through the agency, he already had an extensive work history in the meat processing industry, including at the same company. Despite this, the staffing agency classified him as a new hire in August 2019. That incorrect classification continued to affect his wage increases over the following years.
The court concluded that the agency must pay the worker over 11,000 euros in unpaid wages. In addition, he is owed more than 4,000 euros in unpaid short-time compensation.
The employer involved responded by stating, “Where people work, mistakes are made.” However, CNV trade union official Henry Stroek said the errors reflect a broader pattern. “If mistakes are made with five or six wage components, including holiday pay and short-time compensation, then it’s structural,” he said to RTL. Both workers were CNV members and brought their cases forward with union support.
According to Stroek, CNV has already handled 174 similar cases in 2024 alone. Most have resulted in out-of-court settlements. “The staffing agencies often know exactly what they’re doing,” he said.
Stroek believes this points to “a structural problem that has rightly drawn the attention of politicians.” Calls have been growing in the Tweede Kamer to ban the use of temporary workers in the meat industry to help prevent continued underpayment and other abuses.
The Netherlands Labour Inspectorate has also joined the conversation. While not taking an explicit position in favor of a ban, Enforcement Director Marijke Kaptein called the idea “a good tool for sectors with relatively high numbers of violations.” The meat industry is widely viewed as one such sector.
Social Affairs and Employment Minister Eddy van Hijum is currently examining the possibility of banning temporary staffing in sectors known for frequent abuses. A political debate on the issue is expected later this year. Industry leaders in the meat sector have opposed such a ban, calling it disproportionate and unnecessary.
