Skip to content

Noordam Employment Law

  • Home
  • Employment Law
    • Employment contract review
    • Settlement Agreement
    • Non-compete clause (non-competition clause)
    • Dutch Dismissal and Redundancy Law
    • Employee sickness and reintegration
    • Salary claim
    • Childcare and Parenting – Statutory leave in the Netherlands
    • Harassment and other inappropriate behaviour in the workplace
  • Lawyers
    • Arnoud Noordam
    • Linda Couvreur
  • Blog
  • Customer reviews
  • Training courses
  • Rates
  • Contact

Salary claim

Salary claim

If the employer does not pay the salary, or pays too late, the employee has a salary claim against the employer. A salary claim may arise, for instance, in case of insolvency, in case of conflict during sickness or in an dismissal situation.

Court proceedings

If the employer ignores the employee’s request to pay salary, the employee may initiate court proceedings. The employee should file a claim with the court no later than five years after the due date. After expiration of five years the employee can no longer claim the salary.

When do I have a salary claim?

The employee has a salary claim against the employer as of the date the salary is outstanding. Salary is outstanding from the moment that the salary should have been paid according to the employment contract or collective labor agreement or other contractual arrangements. If there are no written agreements, the employer must pay the salary ultimately on the last day of the period in which the work has been performed. For example, the salary for the month of January must be paid before 1 February. As of 1 February, the salary is overdue.

Statutory interest and statutory increase (penalty for late salary payment)

If the employee has a salary claim against the employer, the employer incurs a penalty for each day the salary is outstanding, the so-called statutory increase. The first three days, no statutory increase is due. However, after the first three days, the statutory increase may add up quickly: during day 4 – 8 the statutory increase amounts to 5% of the gross salary per day the salary is outstanding. After the 8th day, this is increased by 1% per day. The maximum statutory increase amounts to 50% of the outstanding salary.  

In addition, the employee is entitled to the statutory interest. Statutory interest is the interest that a creditor may claim from a debtor in case of late payment in general. This also applies to late salary payment.

The statutory interest is calculated on the salary outstanding plus the statutory increase. In 2022 the statutory interest amounts to 2% of the sum due.

Salary claim in case of bankruptcy

If the employer does not pay salary because of insolvency, a bankruptcy petition may be filed with the court. If the employer is declared bankrupt, employees are entitled to benefits from the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency). 

Contacting our employment lawyers

Our English-speaking employment lawyers have extensive experience in advising expats on salary claims. Do you wish to contact one of our employment lawyers? Feel free to contact us by using our contact form, or contact us by telephone (+31 (0) 20 – 6898 123) or email info@noordamadvocaten.nl.

Mail us
Call us
Contact form

Do you have a salary claim against your employer?
We would be happy to assist and provide you with legal advice. We can also represent you in possible court proceedings.

Contact
info@noordamadvocaten.nl
+31 (0)20 - 68 98 123

Address

Oranje Nassaulaan 5
1075 AH Amsterdam

Contact

020 - 68 98 123
020 - 68 98 885
info@noordamadvocaten.nl

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
© 2023 Noordam Employment Law
  • General terms and conditions
  • Complaints procedure
  • Privacy Statement
  • More information