Transport Online – Flemish minister Brouns withdraws 161 work permits from Antwerp Container Transport International
BRUSSELS/ANTWERP – At the beginning of July, the Flemish Government concluded an Employment Agreement with the social partners to tackle the acute shortage on the labor market. Flanders is making every effort to reduce the number of vacancies. Thanks to financial migration, which is the final piece of this Employment Agreement, non-European workers can also be created to fill vacancies.
It is good that the rules must be observed when employing foreign workers. Minister of Employment Jo Brouns applies a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to labor and social security legislation. Due to expansions at Antwerp Container Transport International, the minister has decided to include 161 work permits.
Foreign workers who want to work as an employee in Flanders need a work permit. It is the employer who applies for the work permit at the Economic Migration Service of the Flemish Region. The region investigates, among other things, whether sufficient wages are paid before employment and whether there are no available workers on our labor market. If all conditions are met, the application is sent to the Immigration Office. When the green light also follows, the work permit will be issued. This permits the foreign employee to work in Belgium for the employer who applied for the permit.
TO TRADE
The Flemish Social Inspectorate monitors compliance with the labor (migration) regulations at the moment the work permit is issued and the employee from outside the European Union is working in Flanders. Many inspections can take place in cooperation with the federal inspection services.
In the case of ACT submitted to the Antwerp transport company. These relations relate to, among other things, illegal employment, social legislation and the lack of security of wage legislation. This is the most severe penalty. Account was taken here of the abuse that the employer made of the vulnerable of the foreign employees and the damage the employer caused to the competitive position of transacting transport companies in Flanders. The Public Prosecution Service also decides on criminal prosecution of these infringements.
When the work permit is withdrawn, the employment of these 161 employees must be stopped immediately. The Flemish Service for Employment and Vocational Training (VDAB) was set up to help the affected employees get back to work. 56 employees are now working for a new employer.
Minister of Employment Jo Brouns: “I am aware that these decisions have consequences for employers, but I use a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to labor migration and the employment of foreign workers. The procedures that the inspection services at ACT and Borealis must can be drawn up by these employees who are ultimately victims of malpractice by the employer. The profiles who were employed at Borealis are also bottleneck professions and therefore sought after on our labor market. A valuable employer.”