Depending on your perspective The Netherlands has either a very enlightened or a very restrictive employment environment.

This interpretation depends on which side of the fence you sit when viewing the Dutch labour law. For many foreign investors these laws are seen as very restraining.

Many companies and company directors are faced with a great deal of uncertainty concerning the labour law. The hesitation companies' feel when employing Dutch staff directly is compounded by years of court decisions which have tended to favour the employee over the employer. Indirectly, the Dutch labour law has led to the development of a thriving employment agency industry in The Netherlands, worth over € 1.6 billion in 2000.

These agencies provide a supply of labour to Dutch companies, without the risks generally associated with hiring in the Netherlands.

In its simplest form the industry works as follows;

The employment agency brings together employers and employees, without necessitating a direct contract of employment between the company and the employee. There is a contract between the Employer and the Employment Agency and a separate contract between the Employment Agency and the Employee. There is no contract between the Employer and the Employee, meaning the labour law does not apply to their relationship. The dominant legal agreement is the contract between the Employer and the Employment Agency.

Clifden Employment has been active in this industry for many years, supplying efficient, enthusiastic and professional people to international business operating in The Netherlands. Today, we provide personnel services to over 100 companies.

Examples and cost of such personnel are;

€ per hour