In total 21 people without papers to work in the Netherlands were found during checks on fast food delivery firms last Friday, labour inspectors confirmed on Tuesday.

 In total, inspectors looked into more than 350 delivery workers and companies in 13 cities nationwide, including Amsterdam, Maastricht and Haarlem. 

They found more than 20 youngsters under the age of 16 delivering food and groceries, even though this is banned by law. A further 21 people did not have the right to work in the Netherlands and 11 were either paid cash in hand or below the legal minimum.  

‘Our inspectors found delivery workers who were given €20 for working all evening,’ chief inspector Rits de Boer said. ‘This is not the type of country we want to be.’

The inspections also involved local authority officials and the police. Some delivery workers were also fined for driving through red lights and on the pavement and for not using helmets.

Last year, the labour inspectorate issued a damning report about meal and super-fast delivery companies, saying they regularly break laws meant to protect their workers against injury and exploitation.

And in September, the NRC said that meal delivery firms were providing work for illegal immigrants who get round checks by using others’ identities or student visas.

In addition, these delivery workers, who are treated as self-employed, are avoiding paying tax on their earnings on a massive scale, tax office officials told the paper.