3 Types of Work Contracts With Recruitment Agencies in the Netherlands

The best way to find a job in the Netherlands is through recruitment agencies. They will connect you with employment agencies and employers, and you will sign a contract with them.

Most commonly, workers from the EU and EEA sign a flexible working contract with employment agencies in the Netherlands. However, there are other types of contracts as well. 

In this article, we will talk about the different types of contracts available for job seekers and how finding a job through recruitment agencies in the Netherlands makes this process simple for you. We will also talk about contracts you can expect to sign if you find a job through Robin. 

Let’s get right to it!

3 Types of Work Contracts You Can Sign

First of all, we need to make a distinction between temporary and permanent contracts.

Permanent contracts are signed for an unspecified amount of time, while temporary contracts are for a set amount of time. A worker with three consecutive temporary contracts will receive a permanent one. This is also true if an employee works for over three years on several temporary contracts.

You can expect to get the temporary contract from your employment agency. It is important for you to know that you will sign a contract with the temporary employment agency – not with Robin or with the company you will work in. Your agency will be in charge of arranging transportation, accommodations, and ensuring candidates get enough working hours, especially in the beginning.

The employment agencies Robin works with are trustworthy, and you have nothing to worry about when it comes to paperwork.

Employment agencies can offer you one of the three types of temporary employment contracts for those who land a job, so let’s go through each of them.

Flexible Employment Contract

When you start working with a temporary agency, you will sign a flexible employment contract. This is the standard practice for all international workers who arrive in the Netherlands for the first time. 

The number of hours you work during the week depends on the employer and their needs. For example, you can work 16, 25 or 38 hours a week, and this can vary. 

Also, your employment agency can send you to different locations, depending on the needs of companies they work with. 

Once you work 52 weeks for the same employment agency, you can’t be on a flexible contract any longer. You will sign a fixed-term contract after that. At any point, you can end the contract. 

Fixed-Term Contract

When a year passes, you get a fixed-term contract. This means that your number of hours will be guaranteed, as will your workplace. 

If, at any point, you stop working for more than 26 weeks (six months), you will need to sign a flexible contract again to continue working. In other words, you will start over. 

After four years or six fixed-term contracts, you sign a permanent contract. 

An Open-Ended Contract

An open-ended contract means there is no fixed end date for your job. If the company you work for ends your contract, the temporary employment agency will pay your salary until they find you another job with a different company.

However, the majority of agencies offer flexible and fixed-term contracts to international workers. No agency Robin works with provides open-ended contracts. 

Contract Details for Robin Candidates

Now that you know some basic information about contracts, here is what you can expect if you look for a job through Robin. 

Contracts that you will receive vary depending on the agency, but as a Robin candidate, you will go through three phases of your contract: 

1. Fase A (New employees): This is the first contract you sign. Some agencies guarantee minimum 25 hours of work per week, while others offer no guarantees on working hours. Fase A lasts for six months or indefinitely.
2. Fase B: After Fase A, you will sign a Fase B contract for another six months with 38 hours guaranteed (for most agencies).
3. Fase C: After Fase B, you will sign a direct contract, also known as Fase C. What this means is that the company hires you directly and you need to arrange your own housing.

Most of the time, you will sign a contract in the agency office when you arrive in the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany. Some agencies will give you electronic access to the contract that you sign before you arrive. 

You will also receive detailed instructions on how to sign a contract if it is done online. 

Most of the contracts are in English and Dutch. Some agencies send contracts only in English, while only a few agencies include the contract in your native tongue as well. 

As you can see, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to contracts. You will be notified on time about what you need to do and how to do it. 

How Can Recruitment Agencies in the Netherlands Help Job Seekers?

As a worker, the best way to look for international jobs is through Robin. Using our recruitment services will allow you to find jobs abroad quickly. We ensure that the entire process runs smoothly:

1. Register on Robin and apply to jobs you like. (Multilingual job seekers have an advantage over people who don’t speak English or Dutch. You’ll need to know at least one of the two languages to increase your chances of getting a job).
2. One of our recruiters will get in touch with you.
3. We will guide you through the interview stage and notify you if you get a job. Make sure you attend interviews and get some interview tips to prepare.
4. You will get a contract from an employment agency in the Netherlands, and they will take care of the accommodation. If you stay flexible with the dates you can travel and remain patient, you have a significantly higher chance of getting hired.
5. We’ll follow up with you and stay in touch.

With our recruitment company, the process is seamless as we support you and remove the stress from job hunting and the application process. What happens once you are connected with the employment agencies?

What’s the Role of Employment Agencies?

The agencies that provide employment services have different roles in different countries. As we are working mostly with the Dutch agencies, you should know that they are in charge of a variety of things and that they take really good care of the candidates. Here’s what they do:

Paying Wages

The payroll service covers everything related to payroll and tax payments. The temporary employment agency also takes care of:

• Calculating your hours worked
• Calculating your wages
• Taxes deducted from your salary by your employer and paid to the Dutch state
• Deduction of income tax from your salary
• Your pay slip

Providing a Place of Residence

The accommodation in the Netherlands where you will live when you go to work through Robin Agency meets SNF standards. This guarantees you that your accommodation will meet at least the minimum standards for housing for foreign workers.

These standards apply to the size, privacy, security, hygiene, and fire safety of the premises where the worker is accommodated.

Helping You Get the Documents You Need to Work Legally

Once you arrive in the Netherlands, the employment agency will help you get the documents you need to work legally in the country. Prepare to:

• Sign an employment contract
• Choose a health insurance policy
• Sign a residence agreement
• Receive a Social Security number, called a Burger Service Number (BSN)

Transportation to the Workspace

Many people who go to work in the Netherlands are concerned about how they will get to their place of work. Temporary employment agencies arrange transport so that candidates can get to their place of work easily and comfortably.

The means of transport provided by the agency depend on the distance between your place of residence and your place of work.

In most cases, the worker receives a bicycle, for which they have to pay a deposit. Once the work is completed through the agency and the bicycle is returned in good condition, the worker gets the deposit back.

If the workplace is further away from the place of residence, the agency may also provide a car for the commute of several employees living in the same house or nearby and working for the same company. In this case, the agency will also pay the fuel costs.

FAQs About Agencies in the Netherlands

Will My Salary Be Higher if I Work Directly for the Company Instead of the Recruitment Agency?

No. Your salary will be the same, no matter if you go to work by yourself or through recruitment agencies. However, it is much easier for highly skilled migrants to find temporary positions on the Dutch labour market through companies in the Netherlands and people who specialise in recruiting.

What Are the Advantages of Working Through an Employment Agency in the Netherlands?

Job seekers who get the job through Robin and receive a contract from one of the employment agencies are much better off than people who go through the process alone. First of all, there are a large number of job opportunities to look for. The job application is simple, and you aren’t alone.

Also, the employment agencies provide accommodation for their candidates, take care of their salaries, and secure transport to work. Often, the accommodations provided to the workers are much less expensive than you could find and close to work.

New opportunities emerge occasionally, and you can switch positions more easily. If you get fired, the agency is obliged to find you a new job.

Last but not least, you’ll keep our agent informed about what’s going on and if you are satisfied with the employment agency. Not only does Robin help you find the right job, but we also connect you with an agency that has a proven track record and offers top-notch career opportunities for everyone who wants to work abroad.

We keep your personal profile, and in case you want to get another job, it is much easier to do so with all the agencies involved.

Find a Job with Robin

It takes some time to sign your first contract and get a work permit to work abroad. But this is so much easier with recruiters on Robin and employment agencies we are connected with. 

You can do so in four steps:

• Register on robin.jobs

Register on Robin.jobs and look for open vacancies in the Netherlands, Germany, or Belgium. Our team at Robin offers a wide range of jobs, but multilingual job seekers have an increased chance of getting a job. You need to speak either English, Dutch, or German.

• Our recruiters contact our clients

One of our recruiters will contact you quickly after you apply. Based on your resume, we will help you find the right job for you. If the employers hire you, our recruitment agency will forward all of your details to them so that they can create a contract and prepare everything for your arrival. All positions at Robin are contract roles.

• Relocate

Once you have the job and the accommodation ready, you can relocate to the Netherlands, Germany, or Belgium. All three countries have near native English speakers, so you shouldn’t have any problems communicating.

Once there, you’ll receive management support, and besides going to work, you can focus on personal developments and explore future career opportunities through our platform. Although we don’t offer career coaching, we’re here for you with all your questions and doubts.

• Robin will support you

At Robin, we support all of our clients, which fully reflects our desire to help you get a job! As a part of our talent acquisition process, we’ll make sure that you’ve arrived safely and stay open if you have any questions.

Our recruiters will check in after you start working as well, which provides added value. Having someone by your side to help you with the entire process is essential, especially if you are moving to a different country for the first time.