WILLEMSTAD - The police have taken seventeen construction workers yesterday during a checkup at Sandals Royal Resort. In the end, 'only' five people did not appear to have a work or residence permit. The police report that.
The large-scale inspection was carried out in collaboration with the tax office SBAB, the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) and the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). A total of three hundred and fifty-three people were checked.
The people without valid documents are originally from Ecuador, Colombia, Jamaica and Venezuela. After verification, twelve of them were released. The five undocumented people were also allowed to await deportation. The police will keep more inspections in the coming period with construction projects.
Employers with undocumented employees could get a fine of around 4000 guilders per worker. This is imposed by the SVB. The Ministry of SOAW can also impose a sanction that rises to 100,000 guilders. In addition, the tax premiums due is collected.
According to sources, not everyone at Sandals welcomes the way in which the inspection has taken place. Sources say that there was a power display. The Ministry of Economic Development was not present during the inspection. Afterwards, Minister Ruisandro Cijntje received several phone calls with complaints about the situation. The minister confirms that there are other ways to perform a check.