The WTTA (Law on the Admission of Workers) enters into force on January 1, 2027. What does this new WTTA legislation mean for you? And how do you prepare for this?
The main highlights from this blog
- The WTTA requires official authorization for temporary employment and secondment agencies
- Clients may only work with authorized parties
- The law applies to the provision of personnel under direction and supervision
- Enforcement is expected to start in 2028
- Administration and time registration must be fully verifiable
- Fines can amount to up to €90,000
What is the WTTA?
In the temporary employment sector, time registration is essential for correct invoicing. But does the WTTA change this?
The WTTA legislation is intended to prevent abuses in the lending of personnel. Consider underpayment or incorrect compliance with labor legislation.
However, the law extends beyond just temporary employment agencies. Consultancy, secondment, and ICT companies can also fall under the law when they provide personnel working under the direction and supervision of a client.
The key points of the WTTA:
- You need official authorization when providing workers
- Without authorization, you may no longer do this from 2028 onwards
- Clients may only work with authorized parties
This law therefore requires action, preparation, and comprehensive record-keeping.
Time registration: what is currently mandatory?
Although there is currently a great deal of freedom in how you track hours, there are legal frameworks that you must take into account. Time registration is mandatory — for two important reasons:
1. Working Hours Act (ATW)
Employers are required to record employees' working hours and rest periods. The Working Hours Act does not prescribe exactly how this must be done, as long as you can demonstrate it. This provides flexibility, but requires a reliable and consistent system.
2. Invoice requirements under tax legislation
When you invoice services, your invoice must meet specific requirements. It must be clear, for example:
- Which service was provided and to what extent (for example: 4 hours of consultancy)
- On what date the service was performed
- What the hourly rate is
- What the total amount is, excluding VAT
In short: good time recording is not only useful for internal processes, but also necessary for tax and legal obligations.
WTTA and time recording: what is going to change?
The framework of standards under the WTTA imposes additional requirements on how hours are recorded. These requirements are aimed at verifiability and completeness.
Ensure that your time registration contains at least:
- Name of the employee
- Period or week number of the activities
- Number of hours worked (visible on invoice)
- Start and end time per workday or shift
- Information regarding breaks
- Location where the work was performed (if applicable)
This data makes it possible to keep your records accurate and to comply with inspection requirements.
Critically review your current method of recording hours. Does it meet the new WTTA requirements? If not, now is the time to make adjustments. You will often also need to discuss this with your client — because under the WTTA, you both bear joint responsibility for correct registration.
Does the WTTA also apply to consultancy firms?
Many consultancy firms believe that the WTTA does not apply to them. However, in practice, it appears that consultants often work in situations that fall under the law, for example within client teams or under the direct direction of the client.
Practice counts:
- Does your consultant work within a client team?
- Does he or she follow instructions from the client?
Then this constitutes secondment. In that case, you must comply with the WTTA.
Important to know:
- What is stated in the contract is less decisive — the actual execution counts.
- Even when you deploy personnel via a third party, you may still be subject to the law.
📚 Click here to learn more about time registration for consultancy.
Consequences of the WTTA legislation
The impact of the WTTA on organizations is significant. The law affects commercial processes, internal administration, and legal responsibilities.
Clients are imposing stricter requirements
Many companies will only want to work with licensed agencies.
Lack of license means potential loss of revenue.
Your administration must be in order
You must be able to demonstrate:
- Who works where
- When the work was performed
- Under whose supervision
- How the project was managed
You must substantiate this with:
- Time records
- Project structures
- Supply chain overviews
Failure to prepare = risk of fines
- Fines can amount to up to €90,000
- The Labour Inspectorate will enforce this from 2028
- Your client can also be fined if you are not admitted
Preparing for the WTTA
Preparation means not only complying with rules, but also projecting confidence to clients and protecting your reputation.
✅ Check if you fall under the WTTA
Analyze per assignment whether there is direction or supervision by the client. If necessary, have a lawyer review the process.
✅ Apply for admission in good time
Do you have an SNA quality mark before June 30, 2027? Then you may be able to make use of transitional law.
Do you not have a quality mark? Then you must submit your complete application no later than July 1, 2027.
✅ Ensure you have the right tooling
Use tools like TimeChimp for:
- Time tracking by client and project
- Insight into employee utilization
- Reports for audits
- Chain registration of suppliers and external staff
- Support for various hour types (such as overtime or premium hours)
📚 Read more here about digital time tracking.
What if the law is delayed?
There is talk of a possible delay in the implementation of the WTTA. However, the likelihood of implementation remains high because:
- The law has been passed by the House of Representatives
- Timelines have already been communicated
- Inspectorates have limited capacity
👉 Being proactive is safer than playing catch-up.
WTTA-proof with TimeChimp
TimeChimp helps consultancy and staffing agencies meet the new WTTA requirements. You gain control over your administration and build trust with your clients.
What TimeChimp offers:
- Accurate time tracking by client and project
- Insight into who is working where and when
- Inspection and audit reports
- Transparent registration of the entire chain
This is how you prepare for the WTTA – and ensure you are demonstrably compliant.
👉 Ready for future-proof administration? Try TimeChimp free for 14 days.
FAQs
The WTTA legislation applies to all organizations that provide workers to third parties - not only employment agencies, but also consultancy companies, ICT service providers, payroll structures and other forms of secondment. The assessment is based on how work is done in practice, not just what is in the contract.
Yes, the original entry into force of the WTTA legislation has been postponed by a year. The law will now take effect on 1 January 2027. Enforcement will start on 1 January 2028. Despite this delay, it is wise to make preparations now, including by reviewing your time registration and processes.
The WTTA stands for the Employment of Workers Act. The law requires companies that allow staff to work under the supervision of third parties to apply for official permission. The WTTA significance is therefore broader than just for employment agencies: consultancy and secondment companies also fall under this law if they lend workers.
