New Dutch Law Affects Your Contractor Relationships

Are you hiring tech contractors in the Netherlands? There's an important law change you need to prepare for.

What's Changing?

The Employment Relationships Deregulation Act (DBA) is coming into full force in 2026, and 2025 is your preparation year. This law targets companies using contractors in place of employees - known as "false self-employment."

How to Check Your Contractor Relationships

Your contractors should be:

• Working independently without direct supervision
• Using their own equipment
• Setting their own hours and workplace
• Working on defined, short-term projects
• Negotiating their own contract terms

What Are the Risks?

Non-compliance after 2026 could mean:

• Substantial fines
• Backdated payroll taxes
• Mandatory pension contributions
• Legal challenges
• Reputational damage

Your Options Going Forward

Review Current Relationships - Assess all contractor arrangements Consider Payroll Solutions - For long-term critical roles Use Project-Based Contracts - For genuine contractor work Explore Secondment - For flexible skill gap coverage

Take Action Now

Don't wait until 2026! Review your tech contractor relationships and ensure they're compliant.

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