International

An investigation by an organisation dedicated to ensuring that temporary employment bureaux adhere to collective work agreements, which in the Netherlands lay down standards of working conditions and wage rates per trade and sector, has revealed widespread abuse of migrant workers. The investigation showed that more than 100,000 eastern European workers, employed as temporary labour, were subject to exploitation of various kinds by 5,000 fraudulent employment agencies. SP Member of Parliament Paul Ulenbelt, commenting on the findings, said: "The employment minister promised tough action against the exploitation of eastern European workers, but what we're seeing is the exact opposite. Instead of the number reducing, ever more eastern Europeans are becoming the victims of exploitation. I want the minister to establish immediately a licensing system for employment agencies which will allow us to maintain control and guarantee a certain quality."

The so-called Anfal Operations conducted by Iraq against the Kurdish population in 1987 and 1988 should be recognised as constituting a case of genocide. ''Saddam Hussein's regime had these horrific acts on its conscience," says SP Euro-MP Erik Meijer. "A declaration from the European Commission that this crime against humanity took place would mean for the Kurdish people a recognition of the suffering inflicted on them." Together with Liberal (VVD) MEP Jules Maaten, and Bas Belder who represents the Netherlands' two small Christian parties, Meijer has tabled a number of written parliamentary questions on the issue.