BRUSSELS – At least 700 Belgian cleaning firms are paying their staff less than the minimum wage.

The Belgian Cleaning Union (UGNB) has confirmed that nearly half of the 1 678 firms registered in Belgium pay their cleaners less than EUR 18.5 an hour, De Tijd newspaper reported on Monday.

The guilty companies work mainly with workers on an illegal independent status or foreigners who can be easily exploited.

Some cleaners are paid 30 percent less than the minimum wage.

The UGNB, which has been lobbying for years for a statute for the 46,593 cleaners in Belgium, is now calling for the public authorities to take action.

According to Union president Yvan Fieremans, legislation must be created to make customers more responsible and defining responsibilities for tax and social debts.

“This kind of legislation already exists in the construction industry, but there is a lack of political will,” said Fieremans.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news