u/Sea_Jicama_7075

Edit: omg this post blew up!

Hi everyone,

I am a mid 20s woman, and I am honestly at the point where I am exhausted from multiple jobs that feels like a dead end.

For years I have worked hard in parcel delivery driving, warehouses, and other physically demanding roles. I have carried heavy boxes, injured my back, worked 13 hours shifts everyday, dealt with mediocre management, and all the usual chaos that comes with these jobs.

But after a recent experience, I realised I cannot keep doing this forever.

I recently have worked for a parcel delivery company. I was NOT paid by hour. I was paid only 0.80 cent per stop. Generally, I worked almost 80 hours a week. I used to deliver 300 packages a day. I never got the time to take a minute of break. The packages were heavy and bulky. However, I have never complained to them, because for me, any work is work as long I am being paid. I was paid less than a typical minimum wage job. However, here comes the twist, the company refused to pay my salary. €2,500 was delayed, and I ended up financially unstable while trying to survive, pay bills, and figure out what to do next. It was one of the most stressful situations I have experienced. A month has passed being jobless. And as I was almost about to seek legal help, I finally received some of the money from that employer. However, I lost time, energy, peace of mind, and trust.

That experience made me realise that I need a proper job now: a normal contract, clear hours, reliable monthly salary, and a peaceful workplace where I can build a future instead of constantly worrying whether I will be paid or injured.

I do not have a university degree, but I have real work experience. I am good with computers, customer communication, organising information, and working independently. My English is very strong in writing and speaking, and I also speak Italian, because of my nationality. My Dutch is still beginner level, but I am learning. I cannot afford a proper Dutch course. I am stuck to learning the language online.

I would love to move into something more stable and office-based, such as in reception, administration, planning, logistics coordination, IT, or any English/Italian-speaking role.
I have a car, I can commute, I am available full-time. I believe I can learn anything quickly.

Does anyone have genuine advice on companies that hire English-speaking people without a degree? I am not looking for another vague delivery job or unstable ZZP arrangement. I am looking for a real chance to build a normal working life.

Any leads would genuinely mean a lot.

My DM is open for everyone.

Edit: I live near Rotterdam but I am open to relocate for work.

Thanks for reading.

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some advice. I am in a serious situation regarding payment for my work after working for just over a month as a parcel delivery driver for a transport company in the Netherlands. It is an agency that works for DHL, and I was working for the agency. I was assigned as a ZZP worker (but False self employment). I started working on April 29, 2026. I was never provided with a written contract. The payment system was never properly explained to me before I started. My employer is a young man 23s man from Turkey.

During my first month, the payment dates kept changing. Initially, I was told I would receive my first payment around mid-June, but the dates changed several times. Eventually, after I had already worked throughout May, I was told that I would be paid weekly (not monthly) for seven-day work periods from four weeks earlier, rather than receiving my full pay for May. The following payments would continue under the same system, meaning I would receive portions of my May earnings throughout June. In practice, I would have had to continue working throughout June in order to receive the money I had earned in May. This situation left me very confused. I was told that DHL pays the company this way and that nothing could be done about it.

The depot also had numerous safety issues. On my first day, while loading the van, I was struck on the head by a large trolley and had to continue working despite having a large bump on my head. There were also frequent problems with unstable trolleys and parcels being damaged due to weather conditions. In addition, I suffered a back strain.

There was also an incident on my first day of work: I accidentally touched a parked bicycle with the company van. I immediately stopped and inspected both the bicycle and the van, and I did not notice any visible damage.

Eventually, I made a decision. Just over a month later, last Thursday, I resigned. Immediately after I found a replacement for myself, my manager sent me an invoice for €1,471 for alleged damage to the bicycle. The incident had occurred on April 29, my first day of work, and the invoice was sent to me more than a month later. The timing seems highly suspicious to me. I asked for evidence and documentation linking the damage to the incident, but I have not been provided with any footage or clear proof.

When I disputed the invoice and requested full payment of all outstanding amounts owed to me, I was told that the company could not pay me in full because it receives payments from DHL on a weekly basis. I was also told that the €1,471 would be deducted from the money owed to me without my consent.

The situation has therefore escalated into a dispute regarding both my pay and the company vehicle. I made it clear that I would not return the company van until I received the full amount owed to me. I understand that some of you may say that using the van as leverage is not the best approach, but I feel that I have no alternative given that my manager has clearly decided to withhold part of my money.

Over the last few days, he has sent me many messages that I consider intimidating, and he has also told me that he will not pay me anything unless I immediately return the van.

I have WhatsApp messages, screenshots, payment promises, and other evidence.

Has anyone ever dealt with a similar situation in the Netherlands? I already had an appointment with Juridisch Loket, but I have not received any good help so far. Lawyers are expensive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.