Thousands of migrant workers in Netherlands may be missing from resident register, union says

Thousands of labor migrants in the Netherlands, including Poles, may be outside the resident register because some temp agencies obstruct registration, a Dutch trade union said, warning that the practice leaves workers more dependent and less protected.

From Jan. 1, 2027, employers hiring migrant workers are to be required to provide information about registration and support workers with registering at the start of employment, in line with one of the recommendations of a 2020 report titled “There Are No Second-Class Citizens”.

FILE PHOTO: CC0

The Dutch Federation of Trade Unions, FNV, said some temporary work agencies deliberately make it harder for foreign workers to enter the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP), the national resident register, Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported.

According to Dutch statistics office CBS, more than 190,000 Poland-born people lived in the Netherlands in 2025. Older estimates put the number of Poles as high as 250,000, including those working but not registered, the source text said.

Lack of registration means workers are more dependent on intermediaries and have less protection. Unregistered workers face greater difficulty accessing a family doctor, health insurance and benefits, and they do not accrue tenants’ rights, making it easier to evict them after losing a job, especially when the employer also owns the housing.

FNV described cases of workers being intimidated, ignored when asking for help with registration, or even fired after revealing they had registered.

Organizations assisting victims of exploitation, including FairWork and Leger des Heils, confirmed those mechanisms, according to PAP. Rental contracts have even included clauses banning registration in the BRP.

Trade unions and Dutch media have for years reported poor living conditions for agency workers, including overcrowded homes, high fees, dirty premises and total dependence on agencies.

“Without registration, it is easier to pack more people into one property and move workers from one address to another”, PAP reported, adding that this encourages housing abuse and makes it harder for authorities to inspect living conditions.

FNV said some municipalities also delay procedures or reject applications, while the Dutch municipal association VNG said it saw no evidence such practices were systemic, although it acknowledged delays did occur.

The Dutch government has announced changes. From Jan. 1, 2027, employers hiring migrant workers are to be required to provide information about registration and support workers with registering at the start of employment, in line with one of the recommendations of a 2020 report titled “There Are No Second-Class Citizens”.

(jh)

Source: PAP