Netherlands Sees Rise in Undocumented Workers, Raising Exploitation Concerns

The Netherlands is witnessing a surge in unauthorised employment of third-country nationals, with tens of thousands, including 35,000 Brazilians in Amsterdam alone, working without proper permits. These undocumented workers are mostly found in construction, agriculture, hospitality, and domestic services, raising concerns about exploitation and lack of access to health care. The misuse of the Registration of Non-Residents (RNI) system, which allows short-term visitors to obtain a citizen service number without scrutiny, is contributing to this growing issue. Authorities remain inactive despite long-standing awareness.