International

Several hundred Polish workers employed in the Netherlands have complained to the national tax authorities that employment bureaux are deducting health insurance payments without their permission - and then, in reality, providing no health cover. Secretary of State for Finance Jan Kees De Jager confirmed this in reaction to questions from SP Member of Parliament Paul Lempens. “In plain language this is known as theft, and it must be immediately stopped, ” says Lempens. “The Secretary of State has, at the SP's request, announced that an enquiry will take place and that there will also be an information campaign aimed at the Polish workers.”

The SP sounded the alarm after being approached by a number of Polish workers about the abuse. “The employment bureaux are deducting the health insurance payments not only without the workers' permission or knowledge, but also without organising any health insurance,” Lempens says. The Secretary of State has confirmed the practice and says that those employment bureaux which have not arranged health insurance for their workers must pay the money back.