The Federation of Private Employment Agencies (Algemene Bond Uitzendondernemingen, ABU) has been the main representative for private employment agencies in the Netherlands since 1961. With 400 members, the ABU represents more than 60 percent of the market. This makes the ABU the largest and most important employers' organisation in the temporary agency work sector.
Quality and security guaranteed
There are a great many private employment agencies that provide workers on a commercial basis in the Netherlands. Only some of these are affiliated with the ABU. An ABU member must satisfy strict quality requirements. For example in the areas of safety in the workplace, rules of conduct, employment conditions and payment of social premiums. This guarantees clients and temporary agency workers that ABU members stand for quality, security and financial reliability. Quality is guaranteed continuously thanks to periodic screenings.
298 million temporary agency work hours
Together the ABU members realise more than 298 million temporary agency work hours per year. In doing so they help hundreds of thousands of temporary agency workers find work and work experience and thousands of companies find flexible workers. The temporary agency work sector fills 1.4 million temporary jobs each year and 735,000 people are sent to work by private employment agencies each year. This makes the sector the largest employer in the Netherlands.
Activities form the Federation of Private Employment Agencies (Algemene Bond Uitzendondernemingen, ABU) in the Netherlands
The ABU focuses on representing and promoting the collective, general interests of its members. To this end the ABU pursues a policy aimed at creating conditions for expanding the market for providing workers within the total labour market.
Main tasks
This objective is worked out in the following main tasks:
Acting to promote the interests of the members, with the goal of further developing the market for agency work by influencing and participating in the socio-economic and political force field, both nationally and internationally;
Acting as the most important representative of the sector, in order to create and guarantee an optimal social, economic and legal framework for agency work;
Providing information, advice and services to the members on all aspects of agency work (individual and collective);
Providing information to third parties on the business economic, social and legal aspects of agency work.
Promoting agency work
In order to achieve the objective above, the ABU regularly makes its voice heard. At the central government, employers' and employees' organisations, politicians and regional governments. For example the ABU took the initiative to develop a mature Collective Labour Agreement for Temporary Agency Workers and the association was closely involved in the Flexibility and Security Act and the Placement of Personnel by Intermediaries Act. At the moment the ABU is lobbying for, among other things, the Uniform Wage Definition Act (WUL), the Salaries Tax and National Insurance Contributions (Reduced Remittances) Act (WVA), the Employment Agency Work Directive and the continued payment of wages for two weeks.
Flex migrants in the Netherlands
A number of ABU members are active in providing foreign workers to companies in the Netherlands, so-called flex migrants. The ABU supports efforts in this area as well. Among other things to arrive at clear regulations, effective cooperation, strict enforcement and good accommodation. Here you can read all the information on flex migrants and the accommodation quality mark Certified Flex Home, which the ABU helped develop.
The Keurwerk
The Keurwerk campaign shows that private employment agencies who are members of the ABU are the right partners for supporting businesses quickly and in accordance with the applicable regulations. You may have encountered this campaign on the radio, online and in newspapers and trade journals.
Flexibility works in the Netherlands
The pamphlet 'Let flexibility work for you' illustrates the working method of a good private employment agency, makes clear to clients how they can make the most of the advantages of flexible work and why it is important to work with a private employment agency that is a member of the ABU.
SOURCE ABU
Private Employment Agencies in the Netherlands | ABU
For an expat moving to the Netherlands, getting the right direction is very important. It's important that one knows which steps and direction to take. Linda is an exceptionally talent counselor, her advice has helped me land a job within a week of coming to the Netherlands. I am grateful for her mentoring and look forward to a great working relationship in the future.
Dr. Hrishiraj S | Clinical Research & Affairs Manager
Together Abroad provided expert advice on personal branding including developing a top-notch, market-aware CV, highly tailored job applications, and approach strategies with potential employers in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I found them be highly knowledgeable in key related fields such as recruitment strategy, immigration law, contracts, labor agreements, and (un)employment benefits. I would recommend Together Abroad to anyone who needs professional help with transitioning to a new career.
A. Aboufirass | Structural Engeer
Linda is a big mind. She thinks about things that the rest normally overlook. The insight she has about the dutch job market can only be achieved through years of experience and persistence.
Her business savvy is complemented by her mastery of understanding the client's needs and requirements. For my career I could say, she was the “Mary Poppins”, who guided me through thick and thin and helped me to land a career in the Netherlands
S. Bhattacharjee | FP&A Manager
Mr. C. Joubert
Lead Workplace Strategy Consultant