An investigation carried out by AD and EenVandaag has revealed that the Dutch Benefits Agency (the UWV), applies double standards to its fraud investigations.
How? People with foreign surnames were more likely to be investigated, and received higher fines than those with Dutch surnames in comparable cases.
This conclusion was reached based on 1,682 files, as well as the testimony of employees.
Employees sounded the alarm
In 2025, the UWV’s own audit department was asked to look into its enforcement department after employees and managers sounded the alarm.
They felt that people with a migration background were more likely to be investigated, and were receiving higher fines compared to cases involving people with Dutch surnames.
And AD’s investigation indeed reflects this. They found that in the North of the Randstad (Alkmaar, Amsterdam, and Utrecht), 44% of people being investigated for fraud had foreign surnames. This group also received 74% of all fines. A researcher tells AD that this is “substantially more frequent.”
A similar picture was painted for the south of the Randstad (Heerlen and Eindhoven): 36% of those being investigated had a foreign surname and they made up 71% of all fines. They also paid the highest amount of fines, making up 98% of the total sum paid.
An issue within the UWV workplace
And it’s not just the UWV’s actions towards the people its investigating that’s under fire. Former employees also tell AD that racism and discrimination is an issue within the workplace as well.
One former employee tells AD that potential job candidates were turned down due to their cultural background: “Many people were rejected just after looking at a CV. Based on surname, sometimes a photo. They would say: ‘No, I don’t want that. Someone with a headscarf.’ It made me so angry and sad.”
Another tells of how one group of managers were referred to as the “Arab League” because they were not born in the Netherlands.
As a result of this environment, many people of colour who work in the UWV are reportedly leaving. “Quite a few colleagues of colour have left Enforcement. They did their job well, but the atmosphere they were in was so toxic that they left. When I see others being destroyed by this, it affects me deeply,” a UWV supervisor tells AD.
The UWV responds
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UWV, Abdeluheb Choho, has responded to these findings, telling NOS:
“It is reprehensible that discriminatory remarks are still being made among some employees within the UWV. We apologise to anyone who feels discriminated against or has been treated in a racist manner.”
The UWV also points out that the finding of this investigation are not scientific, and an external investigation is currently underway.
What do you think of the findings? Let us know in the comments below.
