We notice it regularly: as soon as we talk to students or candidates about secondment, doubts arise. What exactly does it entail? And above all: what does it mean for my salary?
There are persistent misconceptions. For example, some people think that as a temporary worker, you earn less, have to give part of your salary to the temporary employment agency, or even pay a fee to be allowed to work somewhere. Let's be clear about this: that is not the case.
You won't lose any of your salary. In fact, working on a secondment basis offers interesting advantages, especially with the new collective labor agreement that will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
In this article, we explain exactly what secondment is, what you get as a professional, and what advantages it offers.
What is secondment?
When you work on a temporary basis, you are employed by a temporary employment agency and carry out your work at a client's premises. Your employer is therefore the temporary employment agency, but you do your daily work at another company, often for a longer period of time.
The main difference with temporary work is the duration and security. Secondment revolves around long-term projects with the same client. These can last for months, but sometimes even years. It offers more continuity and stability than short-term temporary assignments.
Certainty when completing a project
An important advantage of secondment is the security it offers. Do you have a permanent contract? Then you are entitled to continued payment of your salary, even if a project with a client ends.
If the work at one company ends, you and the temporary employment agency will look for a new assignment together. In the meantime, your salary will continue to be paid. This combination of flexibility and income security is a major advantage for many professionals.
Terms of employment via the ABU collective labor agreement
As a temporary worker, you are covered by the collective labor agreement of the Algemene Bond Uitzendondernemingen (ABU). Among other things, this means:
- Equal pay
- At least the same salary as a permanent employee in the same position with comparable experience
- Pension accrual via StiPP
In practice, this means that you are entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as colleagues who are permanently employed by the client. These include vacation days, any shift allowances, an end-of-year bonus, training opportunities, or other fringe benefits.
For example, does a permanent employee receive compensation for a gym membership or other allowance? Then you are also entitled to this, or to equivalent compensation.
Conclusion
The perception that secondment means less security or lower pay is simply not true. You don't sacrifice anything and you don't pay a fee to be allowed to work.
Secondment combines the best of both worlds: the security of an employer who thinks along with you and continues to pay your salary, and the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of projects at interesting companies.
For professionals who want to grow and gain experience on different projects, but don't want to compromise on security, secondment is the ideal solution.
