ROTTERDAM - Rozy Henrietta, a Curaçaoan employee of a GGD (Public Health Department) call center, has won her case against GGD Zuid-Limburg at the Human Rights College. The case involved racism and institutional discrimination, where Henrietta was verbally abused during her work at the GGD and subsequently penalized for reporting the incident.
Henrietta worked through a temp agency at the GGD during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a phone call, she was insulted with the term "Kankerzwart" (a severe racial slur). When she reported the incident, her supervisors refused to take action according to the protocol. Henrietta later lost a promotion because she insisted on filing the complaint.
After a long struggle, during which the police initially refused to register her complaint, Henrietta hired a lawyer. Ultimately, she won her case at the Human Rights College. The ruling confirmed that the GGD was guilty of discrimination and that her complaint was not taken seriously, which is against the law.
According to Rozy’s lawyer, the Human Rights College's decision – stating that the employer was guilty of racism by failing to adequately address Henrietta’s complaint – highlights that employers should not determine on their own what is proportionate but must listen to the employee.
The ruling has no immediate legal consequences, but if Henrietta takes the case to court, the judge must consider the decision of the Human Rights College.