“Study finds widespread abuse of undocumented cleaners in the Netherlands”, 9 August 2025

The exploitation of cleaners at the luxury Amsterdam gym chain Saints & Stars is part of a wider, systemic problem in the Netherlands, according to new research by Utrecht University. The study warns that current Dutch regulations for cleaning work make such abuse easier, with undocumented migrants among the most frequent victims.

The research team interviewed 22 undocumented cleaners over the past six months, including people working in private homes. Ilse van Liempt, the study’s coordinator, said the cleaning sector is often the only way these individuals can earn an income.

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Cleaning in private homes is almost always informal, without contracts, set wages, or regulated working hours. Workers are often unaware of the exact agreements made with clients. Because there is no work permit available for this type of employment in the Netherlands, the labor is largely invisible and difficult to monitor.

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The report notes that fear of deportation keeps many victims from contacting the police or labor inspectorate. One cleaner from Iran told researchers: “They know I don’t have a residence permit. It is very stressful because you constantly wonder what will happen if they call the immigration service or the police.”