Navigating International Compliance: Hiring Technical Professionals for Projects in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany

When managing large-scale construction projects across borders, ensuring compliance with local labor laws is essential. For project and procurement managers operating in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, understanding and adhering to these regulations can make or break a project’s success. Non-compliance risks include costly fines, project delays, and even legal disputes—consequences no project can afford.

This article explores the complexities of hiring technical professionals abroad and highlights how partnering with a trusted recruitment service can simplify compliance, save resources, and protect your operations.

The Compliance Challenge in International Recruitment

Construction projects often demand specialized skills and a sizable workforce. When sourcing manpower internationally, it’s crucial to look beyond the regulations of your home country. Each destination—be it the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany—has its own unique set of labor laws governing wages, contracts, and worker safety. Overlooking these details can have serious repercussions:

  • Fines and Legal Actions: Governments actively enforce compliance with local labor laws, with penalties for violations that can escalate quickly.
  • Project Delays: Administrative roadblocks due to non-compliance can halt operations, disrupting timelines and budgets.
  • Reputational Damage: Non-compliance can tarnish your company’s reputation, making future collaborations more difficult.

Understanding these regulations and applying them correctly requires time, effort, and expertise—resources that many project and procurement managers may find stretched thin.

How We Simplify Compliance

At Wanted, we specialize in providing end-to-end recruitment solutions tailored to the unique challenges of cross-border projects. Here’s how we help project and procurement managers in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany:

1. Navigating Local Laws with Precision

Our team’s in-depth knowledge of labor laws ensures that every hire meets the legal requirements of your project’s host country. From minimum wage compliance to worker registration, we handle the complexities so you can focus on delivering results.

2. Tailored Recruitment Services

We identify and onboard the right technical professionals for your projects. Beyond matching skills to roles, we ensure contracts, documentation, and onboarding processes are compliant with local standards.

3. Risk Mitigation and Cost Savings

By proactively addressing compliance challenges, we minimize risks and help avoid costly delays. Our efficient processes reduce administrative burdens, saving your team valuable time and resources.

4. Commitment to Worker Well-being

Satisfied workers are productive workers. We prioritize fair compensation and safe working conditions to foster a motivated and engaged workforce, contributing to the overall success of your projects.

Why Choose Us?

Operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, we’ve built a strong track record of helping construction companies achieve seamless, compliant international recruitment. Our expertise bridges the gap between diverse labor laws and your project’s needs, delivering the peace of mind you deserve.

When you partner with us, you’re not just hiring professionals—you’re building a foundation for success in a competitive, highly regulated industry.

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to simplify international recruitment and ensure compliance for your next project in the Netherlands, Belgium, or Germany? Let’s discuss how we can help you navigate these challenges with confidence.

Contact us today to learn more about our tailored recruitment services for construction projects abroad.

Masja Gerritsen
Management

Top In-Demand Skills for Technical Professionals in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany

Are you a technical professional interested in industrial projects abroad? The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are key hubs for industries like chemical plants, oil & gas, datacenters, and shipbuilding. Skilled workers are in high demand, offering excellent career opportunities. Let’s dive into the top skills employers are looking for.

1. Electricians

Industrial electricians are crucial for large-scale operations. Employers are looking for experts in installing and maintaining complex electrical systems, troubleshooting industrial machinery, ensuring safety compliance, as well as cable tray installation. Experience with high-voltage systems and automation technologies is especially valued.

2. Welders

Industries like shipbuilding, oil & gas, and chemical plants rely on skilled welders. Expertise in MIG, TIG, or arc welding and the ability to work with heavy-duty materials under demanding conditions are essential. Certifications for industrial welding processes are often required and can give you a strong edge.

3. Iron Workers and Steel Erectors

These professionals play a key role in constructing industrial facilities. Skills in reading blueprints, fabricating, and installing steel structures, and working at heights are in high demand. Experience in heavy lifting and knowledge of safety standards make you even more valuable.

4. Industrial Painters

Specialized painters are needed for corrosion protection and coating applications in industries like shipbuilding and chemical plants. Experience with spray techniques, surface preparation, and working with high-performance coatings is a major asset.

Why Work in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany?

These countries are home to world-class industrial projects, offering competitive salaries and strong labor protections. Employers often invest in upskilling their teams, allowing you to grow professionally while working on challenging and rewarding projects.

How to Get Started

Update your CV to highlight your industrial project experience and certifications. Reach out to staffing agencies specializing in technical roles for international projects, like WANTED—we can connect you with the right opportunities.

With your skills, you can play a crucial role in some of the most exciting industrial projects in Europe. Are you ready to make the leap? Send us an email with your updated CV in English and we will call you back shortly with a job opportunity.

Esperanza Herves
Recruiter

Essential Certifications in the Netherlands and Belgium

Boost Your Career with These Qualifications

When you’re working in skilled trades or technical professions, having the right skills and experience is crucial—but in competitive job markets like the Netherlands and Belgium, certifications can give you the edge you need. Employers in construction, industrial services, and technical fields prioritize candidates who can prove their competence and safety knowledge through recognized certifications. These certifications not only improve your job prospects but also demonstrate that you’re up-to-date with local safety and industry standards.

In this post, we’ll explore five key certifications for technical professionals in the Netherlands and Belgium, explain their importance, and show you how these credentials can significantly improve your career prospects.

1. VCA Certificate (Veiligheid, Gezondheid en Milieu Checklist Aannemers)

What Is It?

The VCA certificate stands for Safety, Health, and Environment Checklist for Contractors. It’s a critical certification in the Netherlands and Belgium that verifies your knowledge of safe work practices and ensures you can identify and manage risks on construction or industrial sites. Whether you’re an electrician, welder, or technician, the VCA certification demonstrates that you prioritize safety.

Why Is It Important?

The VCA certificate is often a minimum requirement for technical jobs in construction, maintenance, and industrial sectors. Employers in both countries recognize it as proof of your ability to work safely, especially in high-risk environments. Holding a VCA certificate significantly enhances your job prospects in the Netherlands and Belgium, positioning you as a responsible and competent technical professional.

For electricians, welders, and other skilled tradespeople, having a VCA can make you stand out and ensure that you’re eligible for more job opportunities across various industries.

2. Certificate for Work at Height

What Is It?

The Work at Height certificate is essential for any professional working above ground level. This certification covers safety measures for working on scaffolding, ladders, or rooftops, and teaches you how to use personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly to prevent falls and injuries.

Why Is It Important?

Many jobs in construction and industrial services involve working at heights, whether it’s installing electrical systems or welding steel structures. Falls from height are one of the most common workplace accidents in these sectors, making this certification indispensable. In the Netherlands and Belgium, employers often require this certification to ensure you know how to work safely at elevated levels.

Having this certificate not only increases your chances of landing skilled trades jobs but also ensures that you’re fully prepared for the safety demands of the role.

3. IPAF Certificate (International Powered Access Federation)

What Is It?

The IPAF certificate certifies that you are trained to safely operate mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) such as scissor lifts, cherry pickers, and boom lifts. This certification is internationally recognized and split into different categories based on the type of equipment used.

Why Is It Important?

Technical jobs in construction and industry often require the use of elevating platforms to access hard-to-reach areas. Whether you’re an electrician, welder, or technician, the ability to operate these machines safely is crucial.

Employers in the Netherlands and Belgium highly value this certification as it shows you can handle equipment like scissor lifts without risking safety. The IPAF certificate improves your employability and ensures that you’re compliant with industry standards, making you a valuable asset on any job site.

4. ATEX Certificate (Atmosphères Explosibles)

What Is It?

The ATEX certificate is a qualification that confirms you are trained to work safely in environments with potentially explosive atmospheres, such as areas where flammable gases, vapors, or dust are present. This certification is based on the EU’s ATEX directives.

Why Is It Important?

Working in high-risk environments like chemical plants, oil refineries, or manufacturing facilities requires specialized knowledge. The ATEX certification is mandatory for anyone working in environments where there is a risk of explosion. This certification is essential for electricians and technicians who work with equipment or electrical systems in these dangerous areas.

Having an ATEX certificate ensures that you’re qualified for jobs in hazardous environments, giving you access to higher-paying and specialized roles in the Netherlands and Belgium’s industrial sectors.

5. NeN 3140 (Electrical Safety Certification)

What Is It?

The NeN 3140 certification is a Dutch safety standard that covers working with low-voltage electrical installations. This qualification ensures that you’re trained in the safe operation, inspection, and maintenance of electrical systems in industrial or residential settings.

Why Is It Important?

Electricity is one of the most common hazards in the technical professions, and improper handling can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. The NeN 3140 certification ensures that electricians and other technical professionals are trained to work safely with electrical systems.

For employers in the Netherlands, this certification is a must-have for any electrician or technician working with electrical installations. It boosts your employability and ensures that you’re compliant with local safety standards, making you more attractive to potential employers.

Conclusion: Why These Certifications Matter

For technical professionals and skilled tradespeople working in construction, industry, or maintenance, these certifications are more than just formalities—they’re essential tools for advancing your career. Employers in the Netherlands and Belgium look for candidates who have the right qualifications to ensure not only competence but also safety.

By obtaining certifications like VCA, Work at Height, IPAF, ATEX, and NeN 3140, you demonstrate your expertise and commitment to safety, which will make you a top choice for technical roles. These credentials open the door to higher-paying jobs, specialized roles, and more secure employment opportunities in some of the most competitive sectors in the Netherlands and Belgium.

If you’re looking to improve your career prospects as an electrician, welder, or technician, investing in these certifications is a crucial step towards standing out in the job market. Get certified and watch your career take off!

Anca Fit

Recruiter