European Member States and UK
Dutch Child Labour Due Diligence Act
WKDD · Netherlands
Plain-language summary
The Dutch Child Labour Due Diligence Act (Wet Zorgplicht Kinderarbeid) entered into force in January 2025 after a six-year delay. It requires companies selling goods or services to Dutch end users to conduct due diligence to determine whether their supply chains involve child labour. If a company identifies a reasonable suspicion of child labour, it must develop and implement an action plan to address it.
The law covers companies with turnover above EUR 3 million that sell to Dutch consumers. Unlike laws focused only on large companies, this lower threshold makes it particularly relevant for mid-sized Dutch buyers in consumer goods supply chains.
The Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) maintains a public register of companies that have submitted the required declaration of compliance. Companies that have not submitted, or whose declarations are found to be inadequate, can face significant fines and, in repeated cases, criminal liability for directors.
Key obligations
- 1
Submit declaration of due diligence
Companies must submit a declaration to the AFM confirming they have conducted due diligence on child labour risks in their supply chains.
- 2
Develop action plan if risk found
Where a reasonable suspicion of child labour is identified, companies must develop and implement a documented action plan.
- 3
Make declaration publicly available
The declaration of due diligence must be publicly available on the company website.
Implementation timeline
May 2019
Act enacted
The Dutch Parliament passed the Child Labour Due Diligence Act.
January 2025
Act enters into force
After several delays, the law became enforceable.
June 2026
First public register released
AFM released the first public register of companies that have submitted compliant declarations.
Change log
The Authority for the Financial Markets published its first public register of companies that have submitted a declaration of compliance under the Child Labour Due Diligence Act. The register includes company names and a brief description of their due diligence approach. Companies not yet on the register have been notified and given a deadline to comply or face enforcement action.
Official sources
- Official text Wet Zorgplicht Kinderarbeid Dutch Government