From 31 December 2026: employment contracts with an hourly rate below €38

Employment contract for an hourly rate below €38? 

The introduction of the legal presumption does not mean that every contractor working at an hourly rate below €38 is automatically employed by the company. It does, however, mean that the presumption of an employment relationship is accepted. The contractor may rely on this presumption, but the company has the option to demonstrate that no employment contract exists.

If the company fails to prove this, the contractor is entitled to all the protection afforded by employment law. This includes continued payment during holidays and sick leave, and protection against dismissal 

Not applicable to the UWV, the Tax and Customs Administration and the Labour Inspectorate 

The contractor may rely on the legal presumption, but it has effect only under civil law. This means that the UWV, the Tax and Customs Administration and the Labour Inspectorate will not assess this legal presumption. They will continue to carry out their own investigations based on the elements of work, pay and a relationship of authority. 

Immediate effect from 31 December 2026 

The legal presumption will come into force immediately on 31 December 2026. Do you have a contractor who is already carrying out work for you before 31 December 2026 at an hourly rate of less than €38? And will that contractor still be doing so from 31 December 2026 onwards? If so, from 31 December 2026 there will be a presumption that this contractor is employed by you.