New rules for housing costs for labor migrants as of January 1, 2025
From January 1, 2025, new rules will apply to the housing costs of labor migrants in the Netherlands. The Price-Quality System (PKS) is a new and important part of the new collective labor agreement for temporary workers 2024.
With this new system, the rent price of a room is determined based on a number of objective criteria. By making housing costs concrete and measurable, the system aims to prevent charging more rent than the quality of the room justifies.
The PKS builds on previous initiatives, such as the separation of the living and rental agreement. The goal is better living conditions for labor migrants.
*The new rules currently only apply to employment agencies that are members of ABU or NBBU, which Timing is. The collective labor agreement parties aim to declare the collective labor agreement generally binding, so that all employment agencies must comply with the rules.
How does PKS work?
Employment agencies, including us, assess the rooms they rent to their temporary workers using the PKS points system. Based on the number of points awarded, the maximum rent price for the room is determined. When awarding the points, various factors are taken into account, such as:
- Size of the room: the larger the room, the more points.
- Sanitary facilities: the presence of a private toilet and shower earns more points.
- State of maintenance: rooms in good condition receive more points.
- Location: rooms near public transport and amenities receive more points.
What is the impact of PKS on Timing?
PKS can have an impact on the costs of Timing, as they are now bound to the maximum rent prices determined by the system. The expectation is that the impact will vary by region.
What does PKS mean for you as an employer?
The PKS ensures that employers can rely on a fair price-quality ratio for the housing of temporary workers. Additionally, the PKS ensures that the offered rooms meet the set quality requirements. You can view a calculation model of the PKS on the ABU website.
If you have any questions about PKS or the impact on your organization, please do not hesitate to contact your Timing contact person. We are happy to help!