Several Romanian workers specialized in construction who worked on the site of the Central Hospital in Lörrach, Germany, did not receive their salary for two years, according to a report made by Report Mainz.
German public authorities must provide fair working conditions. To this end, they can control the businesses even after awarding a contract. However, a poll conducted by Report Mains shows that almost no local authority uses this possibility.
The guest worker is waiting for his salary for years
The report, quoted by SWr.de, presents the case of the Romanian Florin Gheorghe, who worked on the site of Lörrach hospital two years ago. Since then, he fought for the due salary, of 2,000 euros, which he and his family are addicted. Not for nothing he traveled from Romania to Germany, says Florin Gheorghe.
“I worked for my family, for my child,” the Romanian said.
The new district hospital is one of the prestigious properties in Baden-Württemberg. The construction is estimated at over 430 million euros. But the subcontractor, who hired construction workers, as was the case of Florin Gheorghe, did not pay the employees, according to the research carried out by “Report Mainz”
“If we do not receive our salaries tomorrow, we will have to leave the house and we will be on the street without money,” He wrote the Romanian worker to the subcontractor.
Together with other workers, Gheorghe asked for police support, who sent him to Customs, but he did not receive help. The man has come to spend his naps on the street, because the employer was not paid even.
“It was a nightmare. After a day when you dragged your luggage in the back, without eating, without brushing, drinking, sleeping in a critical outdoor situation, so to speak, it is sad“Gheorghe said.
The Romanian reported that he did not receive any money, although in Baden-Württemberg, the Law on collective negotiation applies, which stipulates that, in the case of contracts awarded by the public sector, equitable working conditions must be provided, in accordance with the respective collective contracts. The municipality would thus have had the opportunity to analyze more carefully and could have controlled the subcontractor even after awarding a contract. He could request, for example, salary butterflies.
However, it is often the case that workers do not receive their due money, although the public sector could prevent this, says Jürgen Höfflin from the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB) South Baden.
The Romanian must fight with the German system to receive his money. Photo capture Ardmediathek.de
The municipality could have verified better if the contract is plausible, it is shown in the report, but it seems that this did not happen during the construction of Lörrach Hospital.
Almost no municipality in Germany checks the companies they hire, the reason being related to the lack of staff.
The situation was similar and when it was inspected by the clinic.
“It is not possible to check and interrogate all the workers in such a construction project, which lasts over four years.”acknowledged the director of the clinic, UDO Lavendel.
Florin Gheorge continues to fight for his money
It could be difficult for Florin Gheorge to receive his salary, the report shows because he has neither employment contract nor puncture, as a useful proof in court. He wants to try anyway and, therefore, took a lawyer.
A report published by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in 2022 presented the situation of Romanian workers who returned from Germany not only with less money than they hoped, but also with diseases and other traumas.
