Netherlands sick‑leave and disability claim surge

In mid‑July, Dutch labour‑monitoring bodies reported a sharp increase in complaints from Polish migrant workers whose sick‑leave claims were being rejected by temporary‑agency employers. Agencies struggled to verify medical certificates issued abroad, leaving many legitimate claims denied and creating financial strain for the workers.

A few weeks later, national social‑security data showed that the overall number of sick‑leave notifications and new disability insurance awards in the Netherlands had reached record levels. The rise was driven not by more frequent absences but by longer durations, especially among workers with mental‑health issues and young employees. Experts warned that the growing inflow of disability claims could cost the welfare system over €1 billion in the next five years and called for stronger prevention and reporting reforms.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a widening problem in the Dutch sick‑leave system, affecting both migrant labourers and the broader workforce, and prompting calls for clearer procedures and preventive measures.