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Wtta · for hirers · Updated 15 October 2026

Wtta for hirers: how to keep hiring safely through an agency

Construction firms and other clients that hire people through a staffing agency, secondment firm or payroll company are affected by the Wtta too. The agency applies for the licence, not you. But soon you need to be able to show that you work with a licensed agency.

Short answer

  • From 1 January 2028 you may only hire workers from an agency with a licence or exemption.
  • Whether an agency is licensed will show in the public register of the Dutch Labour Supply Authority (NAU), expected from 1 July 2027.
  • If you work with an agency without a licence or exemption from 2028, the Labour Authority can fine you and you must end the cooperation.
  • Do it now: ask your agency whether it registers for the transitional arrangement between 1 November and 31 December 2026, and get it confirmed in writing.
Download the checklist (pdf) ↓

The dates

  1. 1 Nov – 31 Dec 2026

    Register for the transitional arrangement

    Agencies register via toelatinguitleenmarkt.nl. Registered agencies may keep supplying workers in 2027 while their application runs.

  2. 1 January 2027

    The Wtta takes effect

    The transition year starts. The ban on supplying or hiring workers without a licence applies from 1 January 2028.

  3. 1 May – 30 June 2027

    Apply for the licence

    In this period you apply for the mandatory licence (or an exemption) via toelatinguitleenmarkt.nl.

  4. From 1 July 2027

    Assessment and public register

    The NAU assesses the applications. Hirers are expected to be able to check in the public register whether an agency is licensed, exempt or covered by the transitional arrangement.

  5. From 1 January 2028

    Enforcement

    Supplying workers is only allowed with a licence or exemption. The Netherlands Labour Authority enforces. A hirer who works with an agency without a licence or exemption can also be fined and must end the cooperation.

How to check whether your agency is licensed

From 1 July 2027 hirers are expected to be able to check in the NAU public register whether an agency is licensed, exempt or covered by the transitional arrangement. On 1 January 2028 the KVK Waadi register moves into the NAU public Wtta register.

Until the register opens, you only have your agency’s word. So ask now for written confirmation of its registration for the transitional arrangement, and later of its application to the NAU.

Questions to ask your agency now

Ask by e-mail, so you keep the answers.

  1. 01 Do you register for the transitional arrangement between 1 November and 31 December 2026? Can you send me the confirmation?
  2. 02 Will you apply to the NAU for the licence between 1 May and 30 June 2027?
  3. 03 Is the deposit arranged (€100,000, or €50,000 for a new agency), or will you be exempt?
  4. 04 Is your inspection against the standards framework planned yet, with an inspection body appointed by the NAU?
  5. 05 What happens to the people on my project if your licence is not ready in time?
  6. 06 Will you tell me in writing straight away if your application is refused or your licence ends?

Checklist for hirers

Download the checklist (pdf) ↓ One A4 page for agencies, one for hirers. Free to download, no sign-up.

Fines and responsibility

From 1 January 2028 the Netherlands Labour Authority can fine agencies without a licence and the hirers who work with them. The Wtta fine amounts have not been published yet; the law sets the maximum at a fifth-category fine.

What your agency needs

For a licence, an agency has to meet all of these conditions.

  1. 01

    An inspection report based on the standards framework (normenkader), drawn up by an inspection body designated by the NAU. After the licence, you have a new inspection report drawn up every 12 months.

  2. 02

    A certificate of conduct for the legal entity (VOG RP), at most 3 months old; for a sole proprietorship, a VOG for a natural person.

  3. 03

    A deposit (waarborgsom) of €100,000 (€50,000 for a new agency on its first application), unless you get an exemption.

  4. 04

    Pay the application fee, which is the same for every agency. After (provisional) admission or an exemption you also pay a yearly fee for the register, based on your turnover. The NAU gives €3,611 as the maximum costs for 2027; it expects to set the final amounts in January 2027.

  5. 05

    Registration in the KVK Business Register.

Frequently asked questions

How do you check whether a staffing agency is Wtta-licensed?

In the NAU public register, expected from 1 July 2027: it shows whether an agency is licensed, exempt or covered by the transitional arrangement. Until then, ask your agency for written confirmation of its registration for the transitional arrangement (1 November to 31 December 2026).

What should you ask your staffing agency about the Wtta?

Whether it registers for the transitional arrangement, when it applies for the licence, whether the deposit is arranged, who does its inspection, what happens to your people if the licence is not ready in time, and whether it tells you at once if the licence ends.

What happens if I hire from an agency without a licence?

From 1 January 2028 the Netherlands Labour Authority can fine you as the hirer, and you must end the cooperation. The fine amounts for the Wtta have not been published yet.

From when does the Wtta apply to hirers?

The act takes effect on 1 January 2027, a transition year. From 1 July 2027 (expected) you can check agencies in the register, and from 1 January 2028 it is enforced, hirers included.

Read on

Do you run an agency yourself? The guide for agencies has the conditions, the steps and what you can arrange now.

Wtta guide for agencies

Do you run a construction firm with your own crews and hired people? I build apps that keep hours, work orders and documents per person in one place, starting with a working demo.

Apps for construction firms

Sources (in Dutch)

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check the current rules on toelatinguitleenmarkt.nl. Updated: 15 October 2026.