When recruiting chefs, Asian restaurants should first look to the Netherlands before bringing in staff from Asia. Gennip, minister for social affairs and labour, announced on Friday that the exemption scheme would be permanently suspended.
Since the beginning of 2022, the agreement that allowed restaurants to hire staff directly in Asia had already been temporarily suspended. Since 2019, Asian restaurants have been able to freely recruit staff outside Europe. But those employees were only allowed to work here for up to two years.
The minister decided to lift the exemption on the recommendation of the Labor Inspectorate, which saw that half of the Asian restaurant companies inspected violated the rules. At a number of employers, the Labor Inspectorate suspected serious disadvantage, trafficking in human beings and the employment of illegal immigrants.
The fact that the exemption has expired does not mean that Asian restaurants can no longer receive chefs from Asia. Just like companies from other industries, they must first prove that they have attempted to hire in the Netherlands and Europe. If they haven’t found good staff there, they can still look to Asia.
