A mass claim against staffing agencies for underpaying workers could result in thousands of euros each in compensation for workers, the Stichting Eerlijk Werk (Fair Work foundation) has said.

“In total, over a million people could qualify for compensation,” spokesman Egbert Jan van Bel told the Telegraaf.

The claim is based on a high court decision from 2023 which said that temporary workers should have the same rights as permanent staff, and on an investigation by the Dutch central bank which said the difference in status can result in an average wage gap of 13.8%.

“Year after year temporary workers earn less than what is legally and socially acceptable. We want to use the high court ruling to get rid of this inequality at last and forever,” Van Bel said.

Earlier talks about compensation with agencies have not had any result, Van Bel said, adding that the only way open is now to investigate the possibility of a mass claim.

People who think they have been underpaid by an agency can enter their name and email to be kept informed about the progress of the claim.

“We are not out for a fight. We are still open to negotiation with the agencies. But if we can’t come to a solution, we will push ahead with a mass claim,” Van Bel told the paper.