BRASILIA - Several tens of thousands of illegal Brazilians work on Belgian construction sites. They are also known as the 'new Poles'. Journalists Nico Schoofs and Filip Michiels from the magazine Vacature expose the shady business behind the exploitation of these cheap workers.
They come across false identities, forged receipts, unclear chains of subcontractors and millions of euros in social and tax fraud. A story in which Belgian construction companies and Belgian accountants play a dubious role. From the Brazilian state of Goias, thousands of Brazilians leave for Belgium every year, and numerous bogus travel agencies make a handsome living from the trade in cheap labour. The Belgian government, the International Organisation for Migration and local Brazilian authorities are now planning a campaign to keep Brazilians out of the clutches of these trafficking networks.
This story won the Citi Journalistic Excellence Award on 5 April 2011.
ONLINE (Only in Dutch)
RADIO
- Meer Brazilianen illegale bouwvakkers - Filip Michels op Radio 1 - 15/12/2010
- Brazilianen zeer gewild als zwartwerkers, De Standaard, 16/12/2010
AWARDS
