In a press release published on 30 July 2024, the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office, together with the Labour Auditor's Office recall that the fight against trafficking remains a priority, as recent cases in a carwash in Hoeilaart and a construction company in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw show.

At the end of March this year, a carwash manager in Hoeilaart was sentenced to a prison term and more than 100.000 euros in fines. Four victims of trafficking were identified there: they worked an average of 11 hours a day and received a meagre daily wage of 55 to 60 euros for this, living and sleeping in a closed space that belonged to the building where the carwash was operated,” says Natasha De Vylder, first deputy labor auditor in Halle Vilvoorde.

Last year, a company in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, active in the construction sector, was also convicted of exploitation and slum landlording. The company allowed an illegally staying employee to work and live in appalling working and living conditions. The victim was severely underpaid and had to pay 400 euros per month to his employer, who also owned the building in which he was staying.

The public prosecutor's office underlines that every year, an estimated 23.000 people are victims of human trafficking in Belgium. It asks everyone to be vigilant and, in case of doubts about similar situations, to report them via the national helpline for victims of human trafficking or via the new telephone number: 078/055.800.

For further details please read the following press release (in Dutch).