Dutch Minister Mariëlle Paul Delays Labor Migrant Wage Deduction Decision Until After Election

In October 2025, Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Mariëlle Paul (VVD) deliberately kept a decision on the wage‑deduction scheme for labor migrants silent until after the upcoming Tweede Kamer elections. The scheme would allow employers to retain up to 25 % of a migrant worker’s minimum wage to cover housing costs.

Internal ministry emails obtained by ANP show the decision had been taken five weeks earlier, contradicting Paul’s parliamentary claim that publication was delayed because of pending administrative coordination. An email a week before the vote indicated she wanted to wait until after the election to announce that the deduction option would not be phased out on 1 January. Both before and after the election a large parliamentary majority, supported by unions and left‑wing parties, called for abolishing the scheme, describing it as exploitative. The previous minister had prepared to end the option.