Tens of thousands of non-EU nationals are currently living and working in the Netherlands without the correct paperwork, according to estimates by the labour inspectorate.

In particular, the inspectorate believes there are around 35,000 Brazilian nationals without residency permits in the Amsterdam region alone, current affairs programme Nieuwsuur reported on Wednesday.

“Where we used to see eastern Europeans, we are now seeing people from other countries working in a variety of sectors,” spokeswoman May Verstappen said. While many face a serious risk of exploitation and underpayment, “it is difficult to check this because they are here illegally,” she added.

Aid organisations such as healthcare provider Dokters van de Wereld and the support group FairWork have also reported a rise in Brazilian nationals seeking help. “They live in illegality and come to us with their healthcare questions because they have no right to health insurance,” said Lisa Vliegenhart from Dokters van de Wereld.

The inspectorate has also noted an increase in the number of Georgian nationals without papers, Nieuwsuur said. For example, in a recent raid on a greenhouse in the Westland district the inspectorate found 20 illegal workers from Georgia.

Some people are included on the register of non-residents (RNI), which is intended for individuals staying in the Netherlands for a maximum of four months. This allows them to obtain a citizen service number (BSN), which is required for working and opening a bank account.

However, the inspectorate says the RNI system is being abused by individuals who remain in the country for longer, as there are no checks to verify whether they have left. Employers hiring RNI-registered workers are required to obtain a permit but often fail to do so, inspectors say.

In February, a Brazilian woman was sentenced to 18 months in prison for helping more than 1,000 fellow nationals obtain a BSN and work over a six-year period.

The home affairs ministry has been warned several times about abuses of the RNI system but has said it has no plans to make changes.

Investigations

The NRC reported last September that four investigations are currently underway into BSN-related fraud involving workers from outside the EU. These cases focus on individuals from Brazil, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Moldova and Albania, who are working illegally in construction, agriculture, meat processing and cleaning.

According to the home affairs ministry, 124,000 non-EU nationals in the Netherlands have a BSN, though it remains unclear how many of them hold a valid residency permit.