Following the unveiling of human trafficking cases in Antwerp, Flemish Labour Minister Jo Brouns announced on Thursday that he had cancelled almost 500 work permits of the Antwerp Container Transport International (ACT) and for two Borealis subcontractors, the company suspected of human trafficking on the construction site at the port of Antwerp.
"I have a zero-tolerance policy on labour migration and employment of foreign workers. The violations identified by inspection services at ACT and Borealis are very serious," said Jo Brouns (CD&V) in a statement.
At ACT, Brouns withdrew 161 work permits – the most severe sanction possible, which results in the immediate termination of employment for the workers concerned. Federal and regional inspectors identified multiple serious violations, particularly linked to illegal work, social security, and non-compliance with wage legislation.
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Brouns further announced that he had revoked all 317 work permits given to two subcontractors on the construction site of Borealis' new plastic factory in Kallo in the port of Antwerp: 196 to the Italian company Irem, mainly Ukrainians, and 121 at Anki Technology, mostly Turkish people.
Won't abandon the workers
Together with Federal Labour Inspectorate, the Flemish Social Inspectorate has established that there had been offences in relation to pay slips and in declaring social security benefits, according to Brouns.
He stressed that Flanders would not abandon the trafficked workers, who come from countries including Bangladesh, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Turkey.
"I called on the Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training (VDAB) to come to the aid of these workers, who are ultimately victims of professional misconduct on the part of the employer. They will be actively reoriented in our labour market," said Brouns.
