The Netherlands is one of seven EU countries to write to the European Commission urging new measures to stop people posted to work in another country from being underpaid and otherwise exploited.

The letter to employment commissioner Marianne Thyssen has also been signed by Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Belgium and Luxemburg and calls on Brussels to ensure everyone is entitled to ‘equal pay, for equal work in the same place’.

Dutch social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher told the Volkskrant eastern European countries are also adding their support to the campaign. ‘They think it is terrible their people are being exploited here or are looked down on,’ Asscher told the paper.

In particular, the signatories want changes to the current regulations on foreign postings, which have created an entire industry based on lower wage expectations and undermining existing pay deals.

‘The abuse of these guidelines… is undermining support for the European ideal,’ the minister said.

Foreign workers who come to the Netherlands for temporary assignments should be entitled to the same pay and conditions as Dutch workers but this is not always the case, Asscher said. ‘A foreign worker with 10 years’ experience is paid as if he is a starter. That is twisted.’

Asscher has repeatedly warned that more needs to be done to stop a ‘race to the bottom’ in terms of ensuring equal pay within the European union.

Read the letter (English)