As of March 1, 2025, there is a new way of litigation for people with a simple dispute with their (former) employer. This can be about, for example, unpaid wages, too few hours or problems with working conditions. The new settlement court is there for cases up to 5,000 euros and offers a simple and inexpensive way to resolve these types of conflicts, without the need for a lawyer or bailiff.

This rule judge is available in the courts of The Hague, Overijssel, Rotterdam and Zeeland-West Brabant. These are proceedings that can be settled quickly, such as a dispute over overdue wages or too little vacation pay. This is a great advantage for people who do not have the resources to go through expensive litigation or for whom a conflict needs to be resolved quickly.

The big change is that you can now go to the rule judge even if the other party does not want to cooperate. This was not possible before. This includes, for example, a problem with your employer over issues such as wages or working conditions, as long as the amount is under 5,000 euros.

The purpose of this new arrangement is to make lawsuits more accessible. You can simply fill out a form to file the case and the judge will try to find a solution during an oral hearing. If that fails, the judge will make a decision.

This news is important because it makes access to justice easier for many people, especially those who are struggling financially. The new rules judge ensures that instead of being stuck in a lengthy and expensive legal process, you can quickly and easily get a solution to your problem. This makes it easier for everyone to get their rights and resolve conflicts with their employer quickly.

Source: New rules judge launched for simple procedures in disputes with employer - Salary Vanmorgen