Can a contract clause remove chain liability?

No. It is a statutory liability owed to the authorities and workers; clauses can only manage and reallocate the risk between the parties.

How does a g-rekening reduce exposure?

Paying the wage-tax and premium portion into a blocked account gives the principal protection (vrijwaring) for that amount against the tax authority.

Which sectors are most exposed to supply chain liability in the Netherlands?

Construction, temporary labour staffing, and logistics are the classic sectors. The rules under BW 7:616a and the Invorderingswet were designed primarily with these industries in mind.

What certifications reduce ketenaansprakelijkheid risk?

SNA certification (NEN 4400-1 for domestic, NEN 4400-2 for foreign firms) is the recognised standard in the temporary-labour and construction sectors. It demonstrates proper payroll administration and tax payment, which reduces the principal's exposure.

How far down the chain does statutory liability reach?

In principle across all tiers. A main contractor can be held liable for defaults of sub-subcontractors, which is why certification and g-rekening requirements must be passed down at every level.

Supply Chain Liability

Addresses a contractor's statutory liability for unpaid wages and taxes elsewhere in the chain.

What it is

Supply chain liability (ketenaansprakelijkheid) is a Dutch statutory regime, mainly in construction and temporary labour, under which a principal or contractor can be held liable for wages, payroll taxes and social premiums that a subcontractor or staffing agency lower in the chain fails to pay.

Why it matters

A contractor can be left paying for another firm's defaults, sometimes years later. Contract clauses cannot remove the statutory liability, but they can manage it through warranties, withholding (g-rekening), certification and indemnities.

How to apply it

Require subcontractors to be certified (e.g. SNA/NEN 4400) and properly registered.
Use a blocked account (g-rekening) to reserve the wage-tax and premium portion.
Take warranties and indemnities for unpaid wages and taxes down the chain.
Keep a clear administration of hours, identities and payments to limit exposure.

Negotiation tips

• Principals should make certification and g-rekening use a condition of engaging a subcontractor.
• Remember a contractual indemnity does not affect the statutory claim by the authorities or workers.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming a contract can exclude statutory chain liability. It cannot.
• Engaging uncertified subcontractors and keeping poor records of who did the work.

Legal references

Unless marked otherwise, references are to Dutch law (Burgerlijk Wetboek, the Dutch Civil Code); EU instruments such as the GDPR apply across the EU. This is general information, not legal advice. Other jurisdictions treat these concepts differently. Verify the current text and your situation with a qualified lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about this clause.