North Korean workers in the EU
5.9.2016
Question for written answer P-006692-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Kati Piri (S&D) , Agnes Jongerius (S&D)
Recent research[1] conducted by Leiden University on North Korean forced labour in Europe, taking Poland as a test case, proves that EU legislation is being systematically violated in Poland. The research reveals that several hundred North Koreans are working under conditions that breach EC law. Furthermore, EC law based on United Nations sanctions against North Korea is also being breached, since workers' earnings are being directly transferred to North Korea. Finally, the exploited North Koreans may be moving from one EU country to another.
In light of the overwhelming evidence:
- 1.Will the Commission start an infringement procedure against Poland based on these clear breaches of EU legislation?
Since the research only takes Poland as a test case and cannot rule out that this exploitation is not also occurring in other Member States:
- 2.Is the Commission planning to take action at EU level to identify the Member States and companies which are hiring North Korean workers?
- 3.Is it planning to set up a systematic mechanism to check the work contracts offered to North Korean workers and the implementation thereof, and to check the working conditions and method of payment?
- [1] http://www.leidenasiacentre.nl/events/conference-slaves-to-the-system-north-korean-forced-labour-in-the-eu