Dutch Asylum Workers Launch Court Battle to Save Jobs Before Service Closure
Ter Apel, 20 March 2026
Eighty workers at the Netherlands’ main asylum screening centre are taking the Justice Ministry to court today to prevent their service from being shut down. The Ter Apel identification unit, established just over a year ago with €40 million investment, faces closure as its duties transfer to the Immigration Service under new European rules. Trade unions have halted negotiations, arguing the transition will create longer waiting times for asylum seekers and waste valuable expertise built up since taking over these tasks from overwhelmed police in early 2025.
Legal Challenge Escalates Amid Parliamentary Scrutiny
The temporary works council of DISA (Dienst Identificatie en Screening Asielzoekers) filed the injunction with the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, with the case scheduled for Thursday, 20 March 2026 [1][2][3]. This legal action follows mounting parliamentary pressure, as VVD and GroenLinks-PvdA raised questions on 12 March 2026 about whether the €40 million invested in DISA represents wasteful government spending [1][3]. The controversy deepened when Trouw newspaper reported on 14 March 2026 that a secret internal report suggests the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) is not yet ready to implement the European Migration Pact [2][3]. The works council argues that the Ministry of Justice and Security ‘could not in reasonableness have come to the contested decision’ to close the service [3].
European Migration Pact Creates Deadline Pressure
The closure stems from the European Migration Pact, which takes effect on 12 June 2026, requiring the IND to absorb DISA’s identification and screening responsibilities [1][2][3]. DISA was established just over a year ago to process data from new asylum seekers after they register with the IND at Ter Apel, taking over these tasks from the National Police at the beginning of 2025 due to their inability to handle the workload [1][2][3]. The Ministry has maintained that DISA was always intended as a temporary measure pending the European legislation [1][2]. However, the timing creates a challenging transition period, with employees arguing that the IND cannot effectively take over their specialised work [1][3].
Trade Unions Suspend Negotiations Pending Court Decision
Both major trade unions representing the workers have halted all negotiations with the government until the court reaches its decision. Narinder Grint from FNV stated: ‘It concerns a large group of employees. It is of great importance to handle their interests carefully. That is why we are now waiting for the outcome of the case at the enterprise chamber first. Only then will we talk to the employer again’ [1][2][3]. Samantha Velders from justice union Juvox echoed this position, explaining: ‘The injunction was filed by the works council, but we are naturally in close contact with them. We are keeping a close eye on the development. We will no longer sit down with the employer until there is a ruling’ [1][2][3]. The suspension of social plan negotiations affects not only the 80 workers in Ter Apel but also 40 additional staff in Budel and The Hague [1][2][3].
Concerns Over Service Quality and Processing Delays
Workers and their representatives express particular concern about the loss of expertise developed since DISA’s establishment. Employees argue that the specialised knowledge built up over the past year is being ‘thrown away’ and that the transition will result in longer waiting times for asylum seeker screenings in Ter Apel [1][3]. The service has reportedly achieved reduced error margins during its brief existence, highlighting the effectiveness of the dedicated screening approach [2]. These operational concerns align with the previous reporting on DISA’s screening accuracy rate above 95%, as detailed in earlier coverage of the closure controversy [GPT]. The legal challenge represents a final attempt to preserve what workers view as a more efficient system for processing new arrivals at the Netherlands’ primary asylum registration centre.