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Draft translation. The rules concern Dutch employment law; have their application to your situation assessed. About our content
Work & rights · practical guides · Pay & income

My wages are unpaid or late

Set out the difference between what appears to be due, what the payslip shows and what reached your bank account. This guide helps you substantiate the shortfall, write a specific request and choose the next step.

Sources (22)View the sources usedSources current as of:
Your route in three steps

Choose your next step

Calculate each pay period separately

Make an overview for each month or four-week period. Separate wages, hours, allowances, holiday allowance and payments received. Keep rotas and bank records and request missing payslips. Compare gross amounts with gross amounts; a net bank payment cannot simply be deducted from a gross entitlement.

Make a specific request for payment

Identify the unpaid period and components and ask for a calculation that can be checked. Choose an appropriate response deadline for your circumstances and keep proof of dispatch and receipt. Adapt the sample letter to the facts; do not copy unsupported amounts or accusations.

Choose the appropriate next route

A wage claim, a sickness dispute and inability to pay require different approaches. If urgent, discuss whether interim court proceedings are suitable. For persistent payment problems, also examine the UWV route. Agree explicitly with an adviser which claims, evidence and deadlines matter.

A practical example

A payslip does not prove payment

The payslip lists the full salary, but only part was transferred. Compare the payslip with the actual bank receipts. Ask for the missing amount and an explanation for partial payment.

My workbook

Gather these documents

Questions about this route

Should I stop working immediately?

Refusing work can create additional risks. First obtain an assessment of appropriate measures in your situation and continue to document arrangements and availability carefully.

What if my employer may go bankrupt?

Examine the UWV payment-inability scheme. Its conditions, covered periods and limits differ from an ordinary wage claim; keep payroll and contract documents in time.

Can I claim interest and the statutory increase?

These may apply to late wages. Their basis, calculation and possible reduction require separate assessment. Do not add them as guaranteed amounts without checking.

Sources (22)

Sources and editorial notes

This preparation guide is our own editorial work. The primary sources below support the linked in-depth articles. Check the stated source date and obtain an assessment of any agreement or procedure for your own situation.

Sources current as of:

The source publications are in Dutch. All language editions cover Dutch law.

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