- Romanian Individuals Abused: Berlin Trial Involves Father and Son
Due to forced labor, human trafficking, and exploitation, a 52-year-old male and his 34-year-old son are facing trial at the Berlin Regional Court. They're charged with illegally bringing workers from Romania to Berlin over several years, employing them under exploitative conditions on construction sites without paying approximately 456,000 euros in social security contributions. The defense mentioned at the start of the trial that their clients would make confessions at a later date.
The men are suspected of committing these acts between November 2015 and July 2020. They allegedly took advantage of the fact that the workers, coming from impoverished backgrounds, were "vulnerable due to a lack of language skills in Germany and had no chance to seek help due to strict surveillance," according to the indictment. The illegal employment was based on a "well-established and effective system over the years."
The 52-year-old primary defendant was in charge of providing workers from his home country for demolition work on construction sites in Berlin, according to the prosecution. "He recruited around 50 to 70 workers per year, whom he or his son brought to Berlin in a partially completely overloaded minibus." Large portions of their wages were withheld for transport, food, and accommodation. In the accommodations, up to eight people were reportedly staying in extremely cramped conditions at times.
Up to ten hours of work per day
The workers were kept in a "state of absolute dependency" by the 52-year-old in collaboration with his son and separately prosecuted men. They were usually employed for up to ten hours a day, often six days a week. It was also common for the workers to have to complete a so-called trial month without any payment. Even the smallest alleged rule violations were supposedly punished with threats and beatings or weeks of dismissal. It was only when one of the affected workers filed a complaint that the proceedings began, according to the prosecution.
The 52-year-old was in custody for about a month at the end of 2020. After discussions between the court, the prosecution, and the defense, the defendants can now expect suspended sentences if they make full confessions. Delays in the proceedings that have occurred should also be considered. Moreover, the prosecution is seeking the confiscation of approximately 456,000 euros in the case of the main defendant. The trial will continue on August 28.
The defendants are accused of illegally employing workers under exploitative conditions in the field of construction, withholding their wages and social security contributions. Despite the defense's promise of confessions, the men are standing trial for their alleged actions from November 2015 to July 2020. These workers, due to their impoverished backgrounds and language barriers, were said to be exploited in a well-established system of employment.
