{"id":87637,"date":"2025-07-30T11:38:32","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T09:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.altares.nl\/?p=87637"},"modified":"2025-07-30T13:19:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:19:39","slug":"chain-liability-avoid-risks-with-insight-into-your-supply-chain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.altares.nl\/en\/blog\/compliance\/ketenaansprakelijkheid-voorkom-risicos-met-inzicht-in-je-leveranciersketen\/","title":{"rendered":"Chain liability: avoid risks with insight into your supply chain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine you hire a company for a job. That company then hires another, and so a chain of businesses is formed. If one company in that chain fails to pay wage taxes for its employees, you as the client can be held liable for the unpaid amount. This is what\u2019s known as chain liability (or in Dutch, ketenaansprakelijkheid).\nBut how can you prevent this from happening?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"row<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What does chain liability mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Dutch Chain Liability Act (Wet Ketenaansprakelijkheid, WKA) is intended to ensure that all links in a chain of clients and contractors meet their obligations, particularly regarding payroll taxes. If one party in the chain fails to comply with the rules, other parties in the chain, such as you as the client, can be held liable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice: you may have to (co-)pay for debts you did not cause yourself. This risk is especially real in sectors that rely heavily on temporary workers or subcontractors, such as construction, cleaning, and logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is this a financial risk, but you also run the risk of reputational damage if someone in the chain fails to meet their obligations, as seen at Saints & Stars<\/a>. Saints & Stars hired a cleaning company, which in turn exploited its employees. This harmed the reputation of the luxury gym chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your responsibilities as a contractor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As above, being a contracting party goes beyond simply \u2018outsourcing the job.\u2019 Especially when external parties are involved who, in turn, hire other parties. The law expects you to act with due care. If you don\u2019t, you can be held liable, even if you acted in good faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk. Think of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n