Dutch Labour Inspectorate too often dropped labour-trafficking tips without looking into them, the national rapporteur found.
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In its April 2025 report 'Rijke signalen, wisselende opvolging', the Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings examined how police, the Netherlands Labour Authority (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) and the Royal Marechaussee follow up trafficking signals. Of 209 Labour Inspectorate registrations in the sample, only four (2%) led to a new criminal investigation; the inspectorate too often concluded without further inquiry that reports were 'not a matter for investigation', even though most reports contained signs of possible exploitation, including coercion and threats, and spoke with possible victims in only 30% of cases, against at least 69% for police and 93% for the Marechaussee. The rapporteur said the inspectorate had a 'too wait-and-see attitude' ('te afwachtende houding'); in May 2026 she told parliament the criminal and administrative response to labour exploitation still falls short.
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