Accountant arrested in human trafficking investigation at metal company in Veendam

An accountant has been arrested in connection with an investigation into human trafficking and smuggling at a metal company. The Labor Inspectorate’s enforcement service in Veendam detained the man on suspicion of involvement in labor exploitation. On Thursday, a court extended his pre-trial detention by two weeks.

The Labor Inspectorate reported that workers at the metal company were required to work roughly 12 hours a day, often with only one day off per week, or none at all. Their wages were deposited into bank accounts they could not access themselves. The accountant, however, had control of these accounts and the corresponding bank cards, which he allegedly used for personal expenses.

According to the inspectorate, workers at one of the metal company’s sites had to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Later, they were forced to stay at several different homes belonging to the suspect.

The workers were reportedly brought to the Netherlands under false pretenses via the highly skilled migrant program. The suspect is said to have helped submit applications to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) and to arrange their flights. He also allegedly agreed to wages that were lower than legally required.

Authorities began investigating the metal company after suspicions of labor exploitation, a form of human trafficking, emerged during a routine workplace inspection in 2023. Seven former employees from India later filed complaints against the employer, and in February, the company’s director was arrested.