Note: avoid illegal labor

All industries, including construction, are experiencing staff shortages. This leads to an increased demand for labor through temporary staffing organizations. However, not every organization respects Dutch laws and regulations equally. Increasingly, workers who are not from EU/EEA countries are being used through shadowy constructions that violate the law. This poses not only legal risks, but also risks to quality and safety on the construction site. "As Profimax, we want to emphasize that we distance ourselves from this trend. We also want to warn contractors: be alert to the use of illegal labor."

"'Always get the job done!' has been our motto at Profimax for more than a decade," says managing director Henri Lensen. "We specialize in facade building, construction and engineering, each with a dedicated sales and back office team to respond quickly to our customers' needs. At our company, we strictly follow Dutch legislation. Of our skilled workers, 20% are Dutch nationals or speak Dutch, and the remaining 80% speak English and come exclusively from EU/EEA countries."

Contested constructions

It is crucial to respect Dutch law, emphasizes operations manager Dave Ruijs. "We unfortunately see some competitors employing labor from non-EEA countries through controversial constructions with EU visas. While the temptation may be great because of lower costs, this is against the law. Hiring non-EEA persons is expressly prohibited under Dutch law, in particular the WAV (Foreign Workers Act). We advise our partners and contractors to be vigilant and to only work with reliable, certified partners to avoid potential legal and operational risks." 

Stricter action

The government has announced it will take a tougher line in enforcing these rules this year in preparation for the new certification system to be introduced in 2025. "The certification system is currently being developed by stakeholders such as the Tax and Customs Administration, the SVB, the Inspectorate SZW, NBBU/ABU trade associations and the IND (immigration)," said Ruijs. "We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to be alert to the use of illegal workers. The websites of the NBBU and the Inspectorate SZW, among others, discuss this subject in detail. Make use of this and take appropriate measures if necessary," he advises. "If you have questions or need further clarification on this topic, we at Profimax are always ready to help you with appropriate advice."

Profimax has been NEN 4400-1 SNA certified for many years and thus guarantees the employment of qualified mechanics from EU/EEA countries. All workers have a Dutch VCA certificate and work exclusively with approved NEN 3140 tools. Profimax is also a recognized training company, is VMRG Partner and has received no less than five FD Gazellen Awards, a crown for the fastest growing and financially healthy companies in the Netherlands.