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The project: POOLSHOOGTE. (An ACV approach to workers from new EU Member States). Nathalie Diesbecq. Explanation of the Name of the project .
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The project: POOLSHOOGTE (An ACV approach to workers from new EU Member States) Nathalie Diesbecq
Explanation of the Name of the project • Poolshoogte` is also the title of newspaper in Poland especially addressed to Dutch(speaking) people working and living in Warsaw. (to keep in contact with their home countries • Means literally “Latitude” • Means in general: to look what is going on, to investigate circumstances.
Target group • The new migrants have in Belgium: • a status as (bogus) self-employed workers – • a status as a posted worker especially in construction, meat sector, transport sector, metal sector. • Undeclaredor illegal work within same sectors. • A status as an employed person
migrant workers-Description • Number of eastern European workers grew from 2004 to end of 2008 • (return after crisis?) • the recruitment is happening in Belgium Poland, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland • Migrants are “happy in their situation of exploitation.
Problems • do not have sufficient knowledge of the Dutch or French • do not always have the necessary technical skills • Are not aware of the existence of the collective agreements • are totally dependent of the local /original employment “mediator” • Do not have any idea of the role of the trade union • Do have housing problems.
How does our project works? • Started in spring 2005 • We developed information tools in Polish concerning wage and labor conditions applicable in the target sectors. (flyers, brochures etc. ) • We were relying on Polish volunteers • We organized information sessions about every necessary information, the role of the trade union, work permits in accordance to Belgian law, residence permits • In cooperation Polish society in Belgium
How was this possible? • We managed to create a climate of trust between these polish workers and trade union workers and volunteers; • We did negotiate with some of the concerned employers, but not always easy to identify whom we were dealing with. • About 30 cases have been introduced before court
Results ? • Up till now more than 5000 polish workers became member of our union • The posted workers are not easy to convince, mostly they don’t join the union. • Since 2009 also polish women (cleaning) do become member, because they are since then legally employed trough a system called ‘dienstencheques”, translated ‘ services checks or vougers ” which offer the possibility tot employ a housecleaner on legal basis, but at a very interesting / economic price for the consumers.
Other importants items & facts • ACV now employs two polish advisers • ACV developed a “welcome guide”, in 14 languages: French, English, German, Russian, Rumanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Serb, Croatian, Spanish, Portuguese, Slovak, Turkish, Moroccan. • We also were / are spreading information true the network our polish colleagues (trough their websites) (Solidarnosc en Budowlani ) • We also use local – Polish newspapers in Belgium. (GAZETKA, NOWINKI, PoPolsku