Labor Inspectorate
The Labor Inspectorate checks whether employers and employees are keeping to the legal regulations concerning fair, safe and healthy workplaces. Through these laws, the labour market is protected and illegal labour, labour exploitation and unfair competition are combated. Inspections are carried out to promote compliance and the rules are enforced under administrative and criminal law. The Labor Inspectorate also provides information to employers and employees. The Labor Inspectorate is a division of the RCN Unit of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
Types of enforcement
Both employer and employee have an interest in a safe and healthy workplace and are jointly responsible for this. Employers give clear instructions, create a safe working environment and ensure adequate rest. Employees work according to the instructions and take responsibility for their own health and safety and that of direct colleagues.
Types of enforcement
The Labor Inspectorate enforces the laws in the area of employment and social services that are implemented by the SZW unit. This concerns laws governing safety at work, work and break times, employment of foreign nationals, loss of wages, minimum wage and dismissal. To promote compliance with the legal regulations, the Labor Inspectorate provides information, carries out inspections and is able to legally enforce compliance.
Information
The Labor Inspectorate informs employers and employees about current laws and regulations. This takes the form of meetings and information brochures. Information brochures for several industries are available in Dutch, Papiamento, English and Spanish.
Inspections
The Labor Inspectorate is empowered to carry out company inspections without prior notice. The employer and the employee are obliged to cooperate with these inspections.
Sometimes inspections are conducted in response to an accident or a complaint. But they are also carried out in the context of inspection projects. In these projects, companies within a given sector are inspected to chart trends and problems within a sector.
Law enforcement instruments
The Labor Inspectorate is empowered to impose administrative fines and conduct criminal investigations. This means that the Labor Inspector acts as a special investigating officer of the police and can draw up charges and submit them to the Public Prosecution Service. Click here for an explanation of the various instruments that the Labor Inspectorate can use to enforce compliance with the law.
Reporting industrial accidents
In some cases you must report accidents at work to the Labor Inspectorate. Click here for more information.
Laws and regulations
The inspectors of the Labor Inspectorate are designated by the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment as regulatory officials for the BES SZW legislation. Click here for all the laws and regulations that the Labor Inspectorate oversees.