International

Companies provided with government support during the COVID-crisis should not be paying bonuses. If they still do, they must be excluded from any future support payed for by taxpayers. That is the proposition that SP-representative Mahir Alkaya will be making during the 'accountability debate' held today in the house of representatives.
Alkaya: 'We see it happening at Booking.com, we see it at KLM; moneygrubbing directors who, despite their business accepting billions in COVID-related government support, are still receiving millions in bonuses. Because many major CEOs lack a moral compass, it befalls the government to set a clear course here. Companies who's directors get bonuses while receiving taxpayer money, as far as I'm concerned, will be excluded from future support measures, will not be invited along on trade missions, and will not be receiving financing from the national growth fund any longer. If the cabinet only keeps barking at these CEOs, but never bites, then the SP will.'

In the past decades, hundreds of thousands of people in the military have had to work with hazardous substances without protection. As a result, many of them are currently seriously ill or deceased. 'Chromium-6' is a well-known example, but the military works with 5000 hazardous substances, of which no fewer than 500 are carcinogenic. For years, employees and their relatives have been engaged in a political and legal battle against the government: for recognition and fair treatment, yet they have been opposed at every turn. The RIVM, on monday, released a report on working with toxic substances, which shows that many more people have been exposed to the substances. At the same time the cabinet announced what the compensation scheme for victims should look like.