Avoid the use of non-legal labor

The risks are incalculable

The personnel shortage affects all sectors, including professionals in window, door and frame technology. Temporary employment agencies are increasingly being used. Unfortunately, not every organization respects Dutch laws and regulations. All kinds of shadowy constructions are used to employ workers who are not from EU/EEA countries. This is against the law and therefore prohibited. Moreover, the risks are incalculable. Profimax emphatically distances itself from this growing trend and warns the industry: be alert to the use of illegal labor.

Always get the job done! has been Profimax's credo for more than a decade. "We operate with specialized divisions in facade construction, construction and engineering," says director Henri Lensen. "Each division has its own experienced professional sales team and back office to respond quickly to customer needs. In order to guarantee a good match, an intake always takes place. Of our skilled workers, 20% have Dutch nationality or speak Dutch, the other 80% speak English and are exclusively from EU/EEA countries."

Potential risks 

At Profimax, we follow Dutch regulations in all aspects of our business, says operations manager Dave Ruijs. "In recent years we have noticed that some of our competitors work with non-EEA employees, mostly from Belarus and Ukraine, through a construction with an EU visa. While we understand the reasons behind this, it is to violate the law. Dutch legislation, in particular the WAV (Foreign Nationals Employment Act), explicitly prohibits the employment of non-EEA persons within the Netherlands." Profimax emphatically distances itself from these "cowboys. "We would like to alert our partners and clients to the potential risks of these practices. Apart from the considerable fines of 8,000 euros per employee in case of non-compliance, the (legal) consequences in case of a calamity are incalculable."

Enforcement

The government has announced it will step up enforcement on compliance with these rules this year, ahead of the new certification system to be introduced in 2025. "The certification system is currently being shaped by stakeholders such as the Tax Office, the SVB, the Inspectorate SZW, NBBU/ABU trade associations and the IND (immigration)," says Dave. "We cannot stress enough the importance of being alert to the use of illegal workers. The websites of the NBBU and Inspectorate SZW, among others, highlight this issue in detail. Take advantage of it and take appropriate measures where necessary," Dave advises. For questions or further clarification on this subject, Profimax assists customers 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.