inlener

Inlener is a term used in the Dutch labor market to denote the client company that uses temporary staff supplied by a staffing agency. The temporary worker is typically employed by the agency, which rents them out to the inlener to perform specific tasks at the inlener’s site. The inlener directs the worker’s day-to-day activities, assigns tasks, and provides workplace facilities and safety oversight, while the agency remains the official employer responsible for payroll and employment rights.

The inlener–agency relationship is established through a contract for the supply of personnel. The inlener determines the tasks, schedules, and performance standards, and the agency handles recruitment, onboarding, and payroll. Common arrangements include secondment or detachering, where the worker remains employed by the agency but works at the inlener’s location under the inlener’s supervision, and payrolling, where the inlener uses the worker while the agency remains the employer.

Legal and regulatory context emphasizes the balance between control and employment rights. The inlener has obligations to ensure a safe working environment, comply with applicable working conditions and equal treatment rules, and observe relevant collective labor agreements when they apply. The agency remains responsible for employment contracts, wages, and social protections, while the inlener provides day-to-day supervision and work directions.

Terminology varies by country, but the concept is common in Dutch-speaking and neighboring labor markets. In English-language discussions, the inlener is often described as the “hirer,” “client,” or “end user” of temporary staff. The term illustrates the division between the entity that pays and administers the worker’s contract and the entity that supervises and uses the worker’s services.