Socialist trade union ABVV is worried about the large number of foreign drivers leaving their lorries at ‘Christmas car parks’ in Belgium during the festive period. Many are the trucks like that that have been parked in Machelen and Boutersem (Flemish Brabant). ‘These are drivers who work in Belgium but are not paid according to Belgian wage and working conditions. That is a modern form of slavery,’ says Tom Peeters of the socialist union. The ABVV is asking inspection services to carry out more frequent checks.
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‘Christmas car parks’ reveal modern slavery in Belgium, says socialist union ABVV
Colin Clapson
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Every year during the festive period, the ABVV counts the number of trucks abandoned in Belgium. This year, according to the union's calculations, some 2,000 trucks are parked in car parks all over the country. The Transmet car park in Boutersem and the Brucargo car park, on the border of Machelen and Steenokkerzeel (Flemish Brabant), contain many such abandoned trucks.
This is what drivers do when they go home for the Christmas period. ‘The car parks where they leave their vehicles are called ‘Christmas car parks’. And if the truck is left here, it means these drivers work in Belgium,’ Peeters says.
‘The drivers are away from home for weeks, sometimes months, driving around western Europe,’ Peeters adds. ‘Only during the Christmas period are they allowed to go home for a while.’
Not only do the drivers often have to leave their home countries for long periods of time, but they are also underpaid, says Peeters: ‘The drivers work for low wages and on cheap labour contracts. This is not legal. This is social dumping and a modern form of slavery.’
Wage levels according to the country where you work
European legislation stipulates that employees must be paid according to the wages and conditions of the country where you work, says Peeters: ‘These drivers should be paid according to Belgian standards. They are entitled to our pay and working conditions, because they work here.’
‘We can no longer allow these drivers to be exploited like this. To solve the problem, the inspection services must carry out more frequent checks.’
Cheaper, cheaper, cheapest
The ABVV has provided its data to the inspection services. ‘We hope they will take action’ says Peeters. ‘Transportation prices in the sector are far too low and that is because of a number of big multinational companies.’
They want cheaper and cheaper, and that can only be done by using cheap drivers,’ Peeters adds. ‘But we should not allow that!’