GMW Advocaten has been providing legal guidance to the expat community in the Netherlands since 2006 via the Legal Expat Desk.

In response to the recent changes in Dutch employment law, GMW’s experts will be offering free legal consultations on Labour Day, May 1, at their office in The Hague.

Take a look at the overview of changes below, and how GMW can explain the consequences for you and your work agreement.

Work contracts in the Netherlands

Last year the Work and Security Act (Wet Werk en Zekerheid) was adopted. This new labour law brings about many changes and will have a large effect on employment contracts in the Netherlands.

Changes to Dutch labour law in 2015

As of January 1, 2015, it is no longer permitted to include a probationary period clause in an employment contract of six months or less.

Furthermore, as of that date, a non-compete clause in a fixed-term contract will only be valid if it includes a written motivation that explains why the clause is necessary to protect compelling business interests.

Lastly, since January 1, 2015, an employer must notify the employee one month before the end of a fixed-term contract (of six months’ or longer duration), whether the contract will be extended and, if so, under what conditions.

If the employer fails to do so, the employee has the right to claim compensation up to a maximum of one month’s salary.

Additional changes from July 1, 2015

Other changes will enter into force per July 1, 2015. Among other things, these changes concern the following areas:
›  the maximum number of fixed term contracts
›  changes to Dutch dismissal grounds and laws
›  the entitlement to a transition allowance after an employment contract with a duration of at least two years

Free legal advice on May 1, 2015

Need legal advice? On May 1 - Dutch Labour Day - you are welcome to visit GMW Advocaten in The Hague for a free 30-minute consultation with one of their experts.

GMW’s labour lawyers will be pleased to answer all your employment-related questions free of obligation.

The Legal Expat Desk at GMW Advocaten

The Legal Expat Desk (LED) is an information hub founded by GMW Advocaten, which advises the expat community in the Netherlands on a broad range of fields including emloyment law, housing, divorce, immigration and more.

Book a free appointment

Register for a free consultation on May 1 on GMW's Labour Day page.

Or for further information, contact GMW via:
› Official website
› Phone: +31 70 3615048
› Email: info@gmw.nl
› Address: Scheveningseweg 52
2517 KW, The Hague