The Namur Labour Prosecutor’s Office has requested a one-year prison sentence and a fine of €80,000 for the CEO of a construction company accused of workforce fraud and human trafficking.
In 2011, the defendant founded a construction company, initially employing about a dozen workers. However, after 2015, no employees were officially reported to be working in it. Instead, the CEO used Brazilian workers hired by a Portuguese company and posted in Belgium.
Through the use of shell companies, he effectively avoided paying Belgian social contributions and, moreover, underpaid his employees.
Some of the workers were classified as active partners and declared as self-employed, despite being subordinates of the CEO.
The CEO and three other defendants face charges relating to the non-filing of job declarations, employment of workers without valid residence permits, fraud, and violation of social criminal law.
The CEO also faces one charge of human trafficking: he and his wife allegedly brought a man from Brazil to work in the company, without any official declaration or proper payment, and made him pay €1,000 for fake documents.
The victim received only €2,850 for six months of work and is claiming €35,000.
Another worker, who was not a victim of human trafficking, is seeking €91,000.
A second defendant is facing a one-year prison sentence and a €40,000 fine, while a third faces six months in prison and a fine of €24,000.
The verdict is due on 14 February.
