UWV fraud unit accused of penalising staff with bicultural surnames more heavily
Internal documents reveal that UWV’s enforcement department imposed higher fines on people with bicultural surnames, prompting an internal review and public apology.
Investigations within UWV’s enforcement division uncovered that out of 1,682 examined dossiers, people bearing bicultural surnames were disproportionately fined, contributing 98% of the total fine sum. Staff interviews described a workplace culture where supervisors used terms like “Arab League” and made overtly racist comments about clients of Moroccan or Turkish background. Two former employees recounted being denied interview opportunities or rejected because of their heritage.
In response, board chair Abdeluheb Choho condemned the discriminatory remarks and offered an apology to those affected. The agency’s internal control unit initiated a review, and an external probe has been commissioned to assess systemic bias. Minister Vijlbrief pledged a full inquiry following media inquiries.
Why it matters
The findings suggest systemic bias in a major social security agency, raising concerns about fairness and trust in public institutions.
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