Watchdog uncovers discrimination in service cheques sector

Flanders’ employment minister, Philippe Muyters, has been called on to clamp down on widespread discrimination against foreigners in the service cheques sector. According to research conducted by the Vlaams Minderhedenforum (Flemish Minority Forum), many companies in the sector follow clients’ requests to not send foreign-born workers.

The Minderhedenforum made anonymous phone calls that showed that 67% of service cheques agencies will not send a foreign worker if they are asked not to.

Services cheques (des titres-services) were introduced by the federal government to make it easier to employ domestic workers to do household tasks such as cleaning and ironing. The cheques, which are heavily subsidised by the government, will become a responsibility of regional governments on 1 April.

“The system was set up to provide jobs and give people the chance to earn some money,” said Wouter Van Bellingen of the Minderhedenforum in an interview with VRT. “It now turns out that it has the opposite effect. This means that the government is in effect subsidising discrimination.”

Jozef De Witte, director of the Interfederal Equal Opportunities Centre, called on the government of Flanders to crack down on discrimination in the sector. “It’s up to the Flemish government to ensure that the law is obeyed,” he said.

Muyters said he condemned discrimination but rejected a request to introduce anonymous calls to monitor companies.

photo courtesy group-f.be