2018-05-31

BRUSSELS - Vulnerable Bulgarian women are coming to Belgium and the Netherlands to live with elderly people who prefer to stay at home rather than go to a nursing home. They will care for these elderly people during the last years or months of their lives. This research is a case study of the practices of Seniorcare24, a major provider of these services in the Low Countries, and the fate of the caregivers seconded by this company from Bulgaria.

The investigation shows that these women are severely exploited. The wages they receive are far below the Belgian minimum wage, if they are paid at all. It is also common for the women to work long hours with far too little rest. There are also cases of outright harassment by the entrepreneurs behind the company.

The investigation also reveals how the owners manage to largely evade supervision and legal liability by splitting their business across national borders into several legal entities.

Finally, the journalists note that while this type of care is particularly popular with the elderly and has the potential to be a win-win situation for both clients and carers, there is a lack of an appropriate legal framework with adequate safeguards to protect the rights of the carers themselves.

The research received a lot of attention and inspired parliamentary questions in both the Flemish and Dutch parliaments.

This project (VTM) has been nominated for the Belfius Prize 2019.

Ruben Brugnera

Ruben Brugnera is an independent investigative journalist, based in Brussels.
Ruben Brugnera
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Michaël Merrigan

Michaël Merrigan works as an independent journalist uncovering structural inequalities.
Michaël Merrigan
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Stanimir Vaglenov

Stanimir Vaglenov is a Bulgarian journalist working at Media Group Bulgaria.
Stanimir Vaglenov
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Jasmijn Post

Jasmijn Post is a Dutch journalist living in Brussels.
Jasmijn Post
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Anoek Hofkens

Anoek Hofkens is an editor (online and TV) at the Dutch daily talk show Jinek.
Anoek Hofkens
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€4,040 granted on 7/04/2017
ID
FPD/2017/1365
Grant
Pascal Decroos Fund
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