Agency Contract Ended — or Overtime Unpaid — in Rotterdam? Your Rights
Warehouse, port and logistics work runs on agency contracts and shifts — and that is where pay and dismissal disputes cluster. You may be owed more than you think.
If your agency (uitzend) or payroll contract ended, or your overtime and shift pay were not paid, you may have more rights than you were told. Repeated contracts can convert to a permanent one, notice rules still apply, and unpaid wages are recoverable — often with a demand letter before any court step.
Keep every roster, timesheet and payslip. In these cases they are usually the evidence that decides the outcome.
Who is actually your employer?
In agency and payroll setups, your legal employer is often the agency or payroll company, not the business where you physically work. That matters because it determines who owes you wages, how notice works, and whether the chain rules apply. Your phase (A/B/C, or the newer equivalents) sets how much protection you have and when it increases.
Agencies sometimes present your position as weaker than it is — for example, treating you as endlessly “flexible” when your history already points to stronger rights.
When repeated contracts become permanent
Under the chain rule (ketenregeling, BW 7:668a), a series of fixed-term contracts can convert into a permanent one after a certain number of contracts or total duration. Agency phase systems and clauses are designed to delay this — but they are sometimes applied incorrectly, especially when you have worked across several contracts or a long period for the same agency or client.
If you have strung together multiple contracts, or worked many months for the same employer, you may already be entitled to a permanent contract or to compensation for a wrongful ending.
The decisive factor is usually your dates — so map them before you accept that the job is simply “over.”
Unpaid overtime, shift and holiday pay
Under BW 7:616 you are entitled to your agreed wage, and under BW 7:625 a statutory increase (up to 50%) can apply when wages are paid late. Overtime, night and weekend allowances, and holiday pay (vakantiegeld, normally 8%) are commonly underpaid in logistics and distribution work.
How to claim: gather your rosters, timesheets and payslips, work out the shortfall, and send a formal written demand (aanmaning) with a deadline. Many wage claims are settled at this stage, without going to court.
Sudden dismissal or contract end
For a fixed-term contract of six months or more, the employer must tell you in writing at least one month before the end date whether it will be renewed (the aanzegplicht); if they fail to, compensation is due. Depending on the situation you may also be owed the statutory transition payment (transitievergoeding).
What to do now
- Save your contract, all payslips, and your rosters or timesheets.
- Write down your start date and every contract renewal or extension.
- Note exactly who paid you — the agency, a payroll company, or the client.
- Do not sign a settlement agreement or waiver before your position is checked.
- Get advice — a formal demand letter is often a fast, low-cost first step.
Agency contract ended, or pay missing, in Rotterdam? Get a free 15-minute call and find out what you’re actually owed.
Book My Free ConsultationA note for international workers
Rotterdam’s port and logistics workforce includes many internationals, often on agency contracts and not always given information in English. Your rights under Dutch law do not depend on your nationality or your language — and you can get help in English before you agree to anything.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your contract type and length. For fixed-term contracts of six months or more, the employer must give written notice one month before the end about renewal, or pay compensation. Agency phase rules also affect your position, so it is worth checking.
Possibly. Under the chain rule (BW 7:668a) repeated fixed-term contracts can convert to a permanent one after a certain number or duration. Phase systems try to delay this but are sometimes applied incorrectly. Your dates decide it.
Gather your rosters, timesheets and payslips, calculate the shortfall, and send a formal written demand (aanmaning). A statutory increase for late payment can apply under BW 7:625. Many claims settle before court.
Usually your legal employer, which in agency and payroll setups is often the agency or payroll company rather than the client. Identifying the right party is one of the first things a lawyer will check.
Not before checking it. Signing away claims or accepting a poor end date can cost you money and, potentially, your WW benefit. A short review often improves the terms.
No. FindLawyer.nl is a matching service. We connect you with an independent, NOvA-registered Dutch employment lawyer who handles wage and agency-contract cases in the Rotterdam area.
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Book My Free ConsultationFindLawyer.nl is a legal matching service operated by Leadvise Legal B.V., not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice or representation. This article is general information for English-speaking residents in the Netherlands and is not a substitute for advice on your specific situation. If you proceed with our Lawyer Matching Service, we explain the matching fee before you decide; lawyer fees are separate and paid directly to the partner law firm.