>The vast majority of cases concern reports of economic exploitation of foreign workers who are active in the Flemish construction sector. The victims often come from Bangladesh, the Philippines or other countries in Southeast Asia. Some come from Eastern European countries, such as Ukraine or Romania.
>
>Subcontractors often lure these foreign workers to Belgium under false pretenses. The workers work with forged documents and are paid very little.
>
>affair “The Borealis and the BASF affair have led to a greater awareness of economic exploitation,” says Van Dyck. “Victims find their way to us faster. But bystanders are also more quickly alerted.”
>
>Bystanders include employees of other construction companies, people who live in the vicinity of the construction sites or regularly pass by and who wonder about the long hours of the construction workers or the working conditions in which they work. The victims knock on Payoke’s door, are referred by the police or other organizations such as Council for Refugees the Flemish .
>
>Modern slavery
>
>The testimonies of victims of human trafficking with economic exploitation are shocking. “These are people who work 14-hour or longer working days for five or six euros per hour,” says Van Dyck. “They often have a forged contract and are sometimes forced to sleep on site.” Van Dyck: ‘The victims often have a forged contract and are sometimes forced to sleep on the shipyard’
>
>”It is a form of well-organized crime in which people are not only exploited physically, but also psychologically.” Van Dyck talks about an “ecosystem of crime”.
>
>“Some foreign workers have borrowed money to come to Belgium and are being pressured to pay off the debt as quickly as possible, otherwise interest will rise or their family back home will be threatened. It is a form of modern slavery.”
>
>Many of these people have been exploited for a long time, Van Dyck knows. “These are men who previously worked in Qatar, for example. They are used to poor working conditions and low salaries. They know it’s not right, but keep pushing their boundaries because they want a better life for their wife and children. Until things get out of hand and they end up with us.”
​
But, hey, BASF, Borealis, and big Belgian companies are 120% committed with safety and well-being of their workers. Lets just blame those damned contractors… /s
1 comment
>The vast majority of cases concern reports of economic exploitation of foreign workers who are active in the Flemish construction sector. The victims often come from Bangladesh, the Philippines or other countries in Southeast Asia. Some come from Eastern European countries, such as Ukraine or Romania.
>
>Subcontractors often lure these foreign workers to Belgium under false pretenses. The workers work with forged documents and are paid very little.
>
>affair “The Borealis and the BASF affair have led to a greater awareness of economic exploitation,” says Van Dyck. “Victims find their way to us faster. But bystanders are also more quickly alerted.”
>
>Bystanders include employees of other construction companies, people who live in the vicinity of the construction sites or regularly pass by and who wonder about the long hours of the construction workers or the working conditions in which they work. The victims knock on Payoke’s door, are referred by the police or other organizations such as Council for Refugees the Flemish .
>
>Modern slavery
>
>The testimonies of victims of human trafficking with economic exploitation are shocking. “These are people who work 14-hour or longer working days for five or six euros per hour,” says Van Dyck. “They often have a forged contract and are sometimes forced to sleep on site.” Van Dyck: ‘The victims often have a forged contract and are sometimes forced to sleep on the shipyard’
>
>”It is a form of well-organized crime in which people are not only exploited physically, but also psychologically.” Van Dyck talks about an “ecosystem of crime”.
>
>“Some foreign workers have borrowed money to come to Belgium and are being pressured to pay off the debt as quickly as possible, otherwise interest will rise or their family back home will be threatened. It is a form of modern slavery.”
>
>Many of these people have been exploited for a long time, Van Dyck knows. “These are men who previously worked in Qatar, for example. They are used to poor working conditions and low salaries. They know it’s not right, but keep pushing their boundaries because they want a better life for their wife and children. Until things get out of hand and they end up with us.”
​
But, hey, BASF, Borealis, and big Belgian companies are 120% committed with safety and well-being of their workers. Lets just blame those damned contractors… /s