Dutch party Denk revives anti-discrimination hiring bill

ISTANBUL

The Dutch political party Denk on Tuesday submitted a private member’s bill aimed at curbing discrimination in recruitment, reviving legislation that previously failed in the Senate by a single vote.

Denk lawmaker Dogukan Ergin said the proposal targets persistent discrimination in the labor market, where applicants are often rejected because of their background, age or personal circumstances, including plans to start a family, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.

The bill would require companies with 50 or more employees to adopt objective recruitment and selection procedures. Employers would have to ensure candidates are assessed on competencies rather than subjective factors such as whether they “click” with interviewers.

“This law must put a stop to the wasting of talent, because that is what employment discrimination does,” Ergin said.

A similar proposal introduced by former Social Affairs Minister Karien van Gennip of the Christian Democratic Appeal, or CDA, was narrowly rejected in the Senate in March 2025.

Ergin said he has consulted employers and political parties over the past two years to address earlier concerns, including criticism from the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, about administrative burdens and questions over the law’s effectiveness.

According to Ergin, the revised bill spells out more clearly the standards companies must meet and removes certain regulatory requirements, including a reporting obligation.

The legislation centers on raising awareness and promoting fair hiring practices. Fines would be imposed by the Labor Inspectorate only in exceptional cases and after an improvement process, he said.

ISTANBUL

“This law must put a stop to the wasting of talent, because that is what employment discrimination does,” Ergin said.

A similar proposal introduced by former Social Affairs Minister Karien van Gennip of the Christian Democratic Appeal, or CDA, was narrowly rejected in the Senate in March 2025.

According to Ergin, the revised bill spells out more clearly the standards companies must meet and removes certain regulatory requirements, including a reporting obligation.

The legislation centers on raising awareness and promoting fair hiring practices. Fines would be imposed by the Labor Inspectorate only in exceptional cases and after an improvement process, he said.