"In the factory there were a lot of machines dating from the 1950s, without a safety system. I know a guy from Poperinge who lost 2 fingers in such a machine. The company tried to lay the responsibility for the accident on him..."
Broos, 21 years, Belgium
"You should see the taxes we have to pay at the end of the year! I got my tax adjustment after doing night shifts for one year. I had to pay 3,000 Euros because the temporary work agencies don't deduct enough taxes on wages. But they don't tell you that. Yes, I got a good salary, but at the end of the year, I had to pay additional taxes equal to two months' salaries. And that is a lot of money! I had asked them to deduct the maximum taxes at source. They said they would....3,000 euros in taxes, and the following year, 1,500 euros...
The promise of a permanent contract.
Through one interim agency I worked for more than a year in a steel company in Poperinge. It mostly manufactured truck parts. At the agency they said "It's a company which rapidly gives a fixed-term contract. You will be treated well and will get a good salary. And the work is not hard." The only thing they didn't lie about was the good salary.