AMSTERDAM — Filipino workers in the Netherlands won a labor case against their Dutch employer over unpaid wages, toxic workplace, and failure to provide work permits.
Subdistrict court judge M.W. van der Veen of the Amsterdam District Court granted the Filipino workers' request for fair compensation.
It ordered Saints & Stars, a well-known gym in the country, to pay the five Filipinos — who worked as cleaners in the establishment — 15,000 euros or about P980,000 each, including transition payment, fixed damages, and holiday pay.
The published ruling stated that the employer failed to terminate their employment contracts and that it was fully responsible for the applicants working without proper work visas for failing to process the documents.
The court found that the workers had been in a toxic workplace that caused them significant stress, adding that it saw sufficient evidence that the gym manager threatened the workers with pay cuts or dismissal.
CASE BACKGROUND
On June 11, 2025, the Dutch Labor Inspectorate inspected Saints & Stars and found that at least 23 cleaners from Indonesia and the Philippines worked without permits.
The cleaners sought the help of the Dutch police, Fairwork, and the Labor Inspectorate, prompting an investigation into workplace discrimination.
The workers claimed they were told to surrender their passports and that they received salaries in cash but were sometimes unpaid.
They also complained of working for a whole week at 12 hours daily.
However, on October 27, 2025, the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) said that there was no labor exploitation, one of the other cases the workers filed.
Further investigation into human trafficking and forgery is ongoing.
'VICTORY BREAKS PATTERN OF ABUSE'
Lilian, the representative for the workers, said she was happy with the judge's decision and hoped that their victory would pave the way for another win in other cases they had filed.
"Kung hindi kami naglakas-loob na mag-report or magsumbong about sa Saints & Stars… siguro hanggang ngayon gumagawa pa rin ng hindi maganda yung Saints & Stars," she said.
(If we were not brave enough to complain against Saints & Stars, maybe the mistreatment would continue)
She also hopes that they will stay longer in the Netherlands and said they have been applying for a non-cleaning job this time.
Mark Pascual, campaigns officer for Migrante Netherlands, said that the win was a "landmark victory because overseas Filipino workers who suffer abuse and exploitation in the Netherlands are rarely able to speak out, let alone win."
"This case breaks that pattern, and it sends a clear message to other OFW victims that they can also speak up, organize, and fight back against abuse and exploitation."
As of press time, Saints & Stars has not issued an official statement.
PH EMBASSY WELCOMES WIN
In a text message, the Philippine Embassy in The Hague welcomed the verdict.
"The Embassy underscores the importance of protecting workers’ rights in accordance with Dutch legislation and international labor standards," it said.
"We note, in particular, the court's pronouncement that all workers, including Filipinos, are entitled to fair treatment, lawful employment conditions, and due process."
It said that it was prepared to assist Filipinos facing legal or labor-related issues, in cooperation with Dutch authorities and other partners, "to ensure fair and humane working conditions for Filipinos."
SAINTS & STARS CAN STILL APPEAL RULING
According to Aldo Gonzales, coordinator for Migrante Netherlands, the legal status of the workers remained pending while they await the outcome of their application for a permit to stay.
Gonzales explained that Saints & Stars has 90 days to file an appeal. With this, the workers are allowed to legally stay while the other cases are also due for hearing in the coming months.
He said that the Dutch Immigration does not hold it against the workers because their stay in the country was technically the burden of the former employer that failed to secure the proper stay permits.