174 possible victims of human trafficking identified in Borealis case

In the investigation into alleged human trafficking on the construction site of the Borealis chemical company in the Antwerp port area, 174 possible victims have already been identified. They are 17 Bengalis, 52 Filipinos and now also 105 Turks, the Antwerp labour auditorate reported on Wednesday.

The labour auditorate announced that some of the 174 have already been interviewed and that most of those who could be "fully" identified have in the meantime provisionally been given the status of human trafficking victims. "They will eventually receive an immatriculation certificate, which allows them to stay and work in Belgium", the auditorate says.

According to the labour auditor, the investigation into those responsible focuses on possible violations of Belgian wage law and the social security conditions for allowing employees to work in Belgium (so-called 'secondment'). It is possible more victims will turn up.

(BRV)

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© BELGA PHOTO YORICK JANSENS