when we work in france it is on british owned properties.
in holland you need to work for an agency. as most of the workforce is in direct employment.
both france and holland have very high income tax, you need to work for a british agency to be able to pay your tax at the uk rate. if you fail to pay the tax ,the building contractor is held responsible. that i why they will only employ through an agency.
a plasterer is called a stuctador in dutch.
all of these countries have a large black market, that deals in cash, but you have to be working there before it is offered to you.