The slavery of care: Bulgarian women working in the West as caregivers

2018-05-31

SOFIA - The story focuses on the plight of cash-strapped Bulgarian women who come to Belgium and the Netherlands as posted workers to care for elderly people who want to spend the last months or years of their life in their own home, instead of in a retirement home. The investigation focuses on one of the main players on the market offering such services, Seniorcare24.

The investigation revealed that the Bulgarian women employed by this group are being exploited. Their wages are kept far below Belgian minimum standards if paid at all. The women’s working days are marked by long hours, very little time to rest, and threats and intimidation by the company’s owners. Moreover, through a network of Belgian and Bulgarian legal entities, the company’s owners seek to evade any kind of oversight and, ultimately, legal liability.

Moreover, it is argued that, while this type of service is very much desired by elderly people, and could have real benefits for all parties involved, a framework that guarantees both the legality and affordability of such services and the well-being of the caregivers, is currently lacking.

Grant of €9.040 awarded in April 2017.

Award

In March 2019, Slavery of Care was nominated for the 'Belfius-persprijs' in the category 'Television press'. The Belfius Press Awards is a series of annual press awards from the Belgian bank Belfius for the best articles or series of articles, audiovisual reports and photos that were published or distributed in the media during the past year.

Team members

Ruben Brugnera

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

Michaël Merrigan

Michaël Merrigan is based in Brussels, Belgium. He has a background in international law, human rights law and investigative journalism.

Jasmijn Post

Jasmijn Post is a Dutch journalist living in Brussels. She works for the local news outlet BRUZZ, where she covers, among other things, Molenbeek politics.