14:35 17 October 2026
Poles second most exploited labor group abroad
Identified victims of labor exploitation in the Netherlands rose 13% in 2025. Reports of exploitation doubled in hospitality and nearly tripled in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Romanians were the largest victim group in those sectors, followed by Poles. Hospitality cases most often involved Bangladeshi, Turkish, and Syrian workers. Abuse includes excessive hours, underpayment, poor housing, threats, violence, and fraud. The Dutch Labor Inspectorate opened 57 investigations in 2025 but referred only 10 cases to prosecutors.
National rapporteur Conny Rijken says offenders are rarely prosecuted, and employer fines may leave victims without human-trafficking status and related protections. Prosecutors and inspectors say cases are difficult to prove and some are handled under other laws or through administrative penalties.
