Netherlands: Dos and Don’ts: Best practice when dealing with a visit by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate

January 1, 2020

The Dutch Labour Inspectorate (Inspectie SZW) can visit a workplace without prior notice, to ensure that employers comply with the law and that everything taking place at a workplace is legally compliant.

The Labour Inspectorate has supervising powers in regard to specific employment legislation (see Further Resources below) including inspecting and taking copies of documents; taking recordings; photographs and samples; and taking possession of and/or carrying out tests on articles and substances that present a risk.

More information on the specific powers of the Inspectorate appears below along with our ‘dos and don’ts’ of how to deal with an  inspection.

Specific powers

Legally, the Dutch Labour Inspectorate has the right to:

Dos and don’ts for dealing with a Dutch Labour Inspectorate visit

As part of an investigation, Inspectors can obtain witness evidence from relevant people in and outside the organisation, including staff, by various means. This could be through casually talking to employees or, more formally, by interviewing one of the representatives of the company.

During this process, the following ‘dos’ are to be kept in mind: 

We encourage you to keep this ‘don’t’ in mind:

Further resources:

The current employment legislation giving powers ot the Labour Inspector is:

Contact Us

For further information or to discuss any of the issues raised, please contact Edith Franssen or dial +31 10 224 64 53

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