Labor exploitation is rising, tackling it remains difficult: 'Justice system must lower the bar'

Reports of labor exploitation in the Netherlands have increased by 13 percent, rising from 356 cases in 2024 to 401 in 2025. The hospitality and agricultural sectors have seen particularly sharp rises in reported cases. Despite these figures, prosecution rates remain low because authorities often set high thresholds to classify incidents as human trafficking. Experts argue that the legal system needs to shift its focus, noting that the Supreme Court has ruled that exploitation does not necessarily have to be extreme to warrant prosecution.

A significant factor complicating enforcement is the country's highly flexible labor market, which relies heavily on thousands of staffing agencies. Many of these agencies exert excessive control over workers through housing and transportation, leading to widespread abuse. While the government has introduced new legislation to regulate these agencies, the law will not take effect until 2028. Critics suggest that the current judicial approach often favors employers at the expense of vulnerable workers and society at large.