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Employer insolvency: what happens to your wages?

Non-payment may be temporary or reflect lasting inability to pay, for example bankruptcy, sometimes even without a court decision. Seek clarity and keep payslips, messages and records of missing payments.

Duration: 1:56

Final legal and language review remain open. General information does not replace advice on your case.

Full transcript

Employer insolvency: what happens to your wages? General information.

Non-payment may be temporary or reflect lasting inability to pay, for example bankruptcy, sometimes even without a court decision. Seek clarity and keep payslips, messages and records of missing payments.

Report lasting payment problems to UWV, which assesses whether it can take over payment obligations. Do not simply apply for the benefit as early as possible: an early application may be rejected. Follow the indicated procedure.

Under conditions UWV can cover up to thirteen weeks of unpaid wages and wages during a notice period of up to six weeks. Different periods apply to holiday allowance and pension contributions. Check each claim by type and period.

The benefit has a ceiling linked to one hundred and fifty percent of the statutory maximum daily wage. Higher earnings may partly fall outside it. Your complete records do not mean UWV guarantees the full amount.

Collect your contract, recent payslips, unpaid amounts and leave balance promptly. Keep employer or insolvency-administrator messages too. You may later lose access to staff systems or employment records.

Ask which amounts the scheme covers and what to do about remaining claims. The employer-insolvency guide helps separate reporting, applying, dismissal and outstanding entitlements.

Read the full explanation and sources on Employment Law in the Netherlands. Have someone assess which rules apply to your situation.

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Official sources

  1. uwv.nl — https://www.uwv.nl/nl/betalingsonmacht/betalingsproblemen-werkgever
  2. uwv.nl — https://www.uwv.nl/nl/betalingsonmacht/uitkering-betalingsonmacht-aanvragen
  3. uwv.nl — https://www.uwv.nl/nl/betalingsonmacht/uitkering-betalingsonmacht-aanvragen/uitbetaling-uitkering

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