While 605 employees at Dow Benelux B.V. (Terneuzen/Hoek, Netherlands) are losing their jobs and entire Supply Chain and Engineering teams are wiped out under claims of "cost cutting," Midland HR leadership is burning those exact savings on executive promotions, salary bumps, shipping containers, and illegal expat replacements:
ZERO REAL COST SAVINGS:
Engineers are pulled off critical projects in Terneuzen due to "lack of funds," yet HR is spending the layoff savings on international flights, paying directors with zero direct reports for months ("waiting room" seats), salary increases, housing packages, shipping containers, and expat visas. While HR hid an official announcement to deceive Dutch authorities, Global Total Rewards Director J.F. (Midland) and the Brazilian replacement have openly shared these plans since July 2026.CASE 1 — REGIONAL TOTAL REWARDS LEADER (E.N.) REPLACED BY HIGHER-PAID BRAZILIAN DIRECTOR (L.S.F.):
- The Dutch Regional Total Rewards Leader for EMEAI (E.N., based at the Dow Diamond Center building in Hoek, Herbert H. Dowweg 5, 4542 NM, 4th floor) had his role declared "economically eliminated" within the 605 cuts (last day Nov 30, 2026).
- Open Dow's internal org chart right now: E.N. entire team of 18 subordinates (13 direct + 5 indirect: 16 working physically at the Dow Diamond Center in Hoek and 2 in India) was ALREADY transferred in the HR system in early November under a Brazilian director in Sao Paulo (L.S.F. / L.F., who had 0 direct reports since July 2026 while waiting for this seat).
- Next Week's Illegal Handover (Nov 16-21, 2026): L.S.F. lands at Amsterdam Schiphol on Monday, Nov 16, works physically at the Dow Diamond Center building in Hoek (Herbert H. Dowweg 5, 4th floor) from Tuesday, Nov 17 to Friday, Nov 20 WITHOUT a Dutch work permit (TWV) to do the handover and manage the 16 local employees, and flies back Nov 21. On Dec 1, 2026, he formally takes the title, and in March/April 2027 he relocates to Terneuzen on a Dutch Kennismigrant visa—with Dow paying for a shipping container, housing, flights, and a HIGHER salary than E.N. earned!
- CASE 2 — TERNEUZEN HR DIRECTOR (M.W.) REPLACED BY PROMOTED DIRECTOR (L.T.) IN MIDLAND:
- The Associate HR Service Delivery Director in Terneuzen (M.W., last day Oct 16, 2026) was offered an insulting demotion and pushed into the 605 cuts so her exact duties and 18 subordinates could be transferred to a Brazilian national in Midland, USA (L.T.). L.T. was promoted to Director (with a pay raise) in July 2026 under J.F. with zero reports just to wait for M.W.'s chair, and was then moved under C.W. in Midland.
- The Fatal Contradiction: If M.W.'s role left Terneuzen because global HR roles are moving to the US, why is Dow spending a fortune to bring L.S.F. from Brazil TO Terneuzen for E.N.'s seat? Conversely, if HR directors must sit in Terneuzen, why was M.W. pushed out?
UNION FNV REFUSED TO SIGN SOCIAL PLAN & WORKS COUNCIL (OR) COMPLICITY:
Dutch union FNV confirmed in writing that FNV completely refused to sign Dow's Social Plan—only Dow's internal Works Council (OR) signed it with management. Despite the OR (and 9 individual OR members) being formally notified of all this system evidence, the OR remains silent and complicit because admitting the fraud invalidates the Social Plan the OR signed alone. Union CNV is now stepping in to confront the OR.LAWS VIOLATED & €2.5M+ EXPOSURE FOR DOW BENELUX B.V.:
Official reports have been filed with the UWV, IND Immigration, Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer), and investigative media (NOS/Nieuwsuur, AD/PZC, 1Vandaag, NU.nl):
- Art. 2 & 18 Wav: Illegal work in Hoek on Nov 17-20 without a work permit (€8k-€24k fines + stop-work order).
- Art. 2a, 24a & 55a Vw 2000: Kennismigrant visa fraud, risking suspension/revocation of Dow's Recognized Sponsor (Erkend Referent) license—which would put hundreds of innocent foreign engineers currently on visas at Dow Terneuzen (<5 years in NL) on a 3-month notice to leave the country!
- Art. 7:669, 7:681 (26-week rule) & 3:44 BW, WMCO & WOR: Sham redundancy (schijnontslag), annulment of signed VSOs for deceit, and €100k-€300k+ punitive damages per employee.