Restaurant Owner in Liège Accused of Exploitation and Fraud
Workers in Liège, Belgium are alleging exploitation by Sahren, the owner of two restaurants, who is accused of fraudulently registering employees as managers and misappropriating mutual benefits. Several individuals claim they were lured with promises of stable employment and accommodation, only to find themselves financially liable for social security contributions as independent contractors.
The scheme reportedly began with Sahren recruiting individuals, frequently enough from outside Belgium, with offers of work and housing. One victim, a cook originally from Morocco who arrived in Belgium on January 31, 2019, after working in Spain, described encountering Sahren at a butcher shop and inquiring about potential employment.This encounter, she says, “was the standing of big troubles.”
Sahren offered the cook not only a job but also accommodation, which the woman initially considered a blessing. However, she alleges she was quickly pressured into signing documents without adequate time to review them. “She introduced me to the documents on a Saturday in full shot,” the cook explained. “There were a lot of people in the restaurant, the room was full. I didn’t have time to read what I was signing.” These documents, she discovered later, registered her as a shareholder and manager - a “straw manager” - of the business.
The cook stated, ”She told me that we were like a family, that she was like my sister. She told me to trust him. I thought it was an employment contract. she told me about a permanent contract.”
The deception came to light when the workers began receiving bills for social security contributions. When confronted, Sahren allegedly promised to reimburse the amounts owed, a promise she never fulfilled. The cook filed a complaint on June 26, 2019, and subsequently lost both her job and housing.
Other employees have reported similar experiences. Sahren is also suspected of pocketing the profits from both restaurants while illegally benefiting from mutual insurance schemes.
Sahren was not present, nor represented, in court. A judge is expected to deliver a verdict at the end of September.
