Flanders and Bulgaria have decided to enhance their cooperation in the fight against social exploitation. Flemish Work Minister Jo Brouns reached this agreement with Bulgarian Ambassador

Plamen Bochem and Bulgarian Consul Malin Messalski on Monday, emphasizing the importance of protecting workers in Flanders.

Flanders has been grappling with the presence of gangmaster firms, which recruit foreign workers and employ them at extremely low wages. Often, the companies hiring these workers are unaware of the exploitation, as they pay the minimum wages mandated by Belgium while the gangmaster firms pocket the difference.

While Flanders and Bulgaria have already been working together to address this issue, they have now decided to strengthen their collaboration further. The Bulgarian embassy will disseminate information on the rights and obligations of workers in Flanders, aiming to raise awareness among potential migrant workers.

The agreement also includes cooperation between the Flemish Social Inspectorate (FSI) and Bulgaria's consular services. This arrangement allows the FSI to promptly alert authorities when there are indications of fraudulent Bulgarian identity cards circulating in Flanders.

To facilitate efficient data exchange, a designated contact person will be appointed in Sofia for the Flemish administration. Additionally, Minister Brouns has requested the appointment of a Bulgarian labor attaché in Belgium, who will serve as a point of contact for labor market inquiries concerning Bulgarians in Flanders.

Minister Brouns firmly advocates for a "zero tolerance policy" against the illegal employment of foreign workers. He asserts that anyone working in Flanders should be protected and treated fairly within the region's labor market. With the strengthened collaboration between Flanders and Bulgaria, both parties are committed to combating social exploitation and ensuring the rights and well-being of workers. Photo by anjči from London, UK, Wikimedia commons.