Businessman arrested for exploiting truck drivers

The owner of a transport company in Goeree-Overflakkee under suspicion of exploiting Hongarian/Serbian truck drivers.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"27855","attributes":{"class":"media-image alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-19332","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"150","height":"150","alt":"boeien"}}]]The 56-year-old man was arrested by Inspectors from the Social Affairs and Employment SZW Ministry; the Ministry said in a press release that the truck drivers endured long working hours, scant salaries and threats.

The man is suspected of shanghaiing drivers in Serbia with promises of proper salaries and accommodation. The promises did not materialize though; salaries were low and accommodation was never arranged. Drivers slept in their truck cabins; some of them never received pay and if they complained they were threatened, as was their family back home.

The SZW Inspectorate started investigating the company in February after some of the drivers reported the abuse at the FNV union. The probe showed that the drivers indeed worked excessive lengths of times, but also that the owner of the company produced fake documentation to justify the hours.

The Ministry said the company created a fake construction to divert the law. “This is undesirable. It is unfair for the industry because it leads to unfair competition. Unfair for the employees because they get underpaid and exploited. Unfair for Government because it misses out on premiums and taxes, while it still has to pay welfare if workers get fired due to unfair competition,” the release explained.

The businessman whose name was not given has meanwhile been led in front of an investigative judge who has extended his detention.