Last winter season, Computer technology student Aaron Serpilin was taking a trip through Sweden by himself. He worked numerous months to be able to pay for the trip. As he discovered himself in the remote arctic village of Abisko, he couldn’t pay for to return to the airport. He worked for the money, however says he wasn’t paid on time. “It was frustrating having to ask my household for 2 hundred euros to not get stuck on the North Pole”, he says.
Similarly, an UvA student treated his sweetheart to a holiday in Spain last summer. He says he was assured he ‘d be spent for his work on time. Instead, he had to ask his family for cash and his girlfriend chipped in too.
Ghosted
Both students feel like they have actually been benefited from by job agency ViaOns, and they become part of a larger group of VU and UvA trainees who are all trying to get paid. They used the firm due to the fact that it was a hassle-free method to get relatively well-paying hospitality jobs. ViaOns (which implies ‘through us’ in Dutch) connects workers to business such as dining establishments and bars. The wages are then supposed to go through ViaOns to the staff members.
The students obviously got their cash in the start, although there could be a few weeks between doing a shift and making money. But they state that at some time, the delays worsened, and the trainees ended up being owed large amounts of money for months on end with no reputable sign of when or even if they would get anything. “I do not understand whether they’re putting it in crypto or investing it elsewhere. It’s a mystery to me why they do not pay their employees”, the UvA student states.
In the case of Economics and Business Economics trainee Martin, he states he began requesting his money after waiting on more than a month. ViaOns told him they were still waiting on the restaurant to spend for his shifts. As another month passed, Martin decided to stop working altogether until he made money. “I was calling like twice a day stating: bro please, I require the cash. I got ta pay for food and my rent.”
Martin states he was typically ‘ghosted’ when requesting for his cash, or he would be informed that they were still waiting on the dining establishment. However, the restaurant ensured him that his shifts had currently been paid to ViaOns. He declares the company still owes him over 1,000 euros. WhatsApp screenshots shared by the students portray a lot of one-sided interaction between the trainees and ViaOns, with the students sending pointer after suggestion that they’re waiting on pay from a very long time ago.
Legal action
Serpilin worked three days per week for numerous months to save up for his trip to Sweden. He says he spoke to ViaOns before traveling and was ensured he ‘d get his cash on time, however once in Sweden, he says he was ghosted and much of his plans were cancelled since he could not pay for them.
Despite this dreadful experience, he continued to work with ViaOns and did receive some payments, but it would often take a long period of time and due to the delays he says he was essentially broke, waiting for several months of pay. He spoke to buddies who remained in the very same boat as him and discovered a collection firm ready to help them get the cash.
With time, the variety of trainees trying to get their cash increased to sixteen. The trainees discovered each other through their own networks, suggesting they are not necessarily the only ones impacted. More recently, they’re talking with a legal representative and dream to pursue a legal case, which has changed their method of utilizing a debt collection agency.
Societal problem
Providing the trainees with legal aid is a bit difficult according to lawyer Dylan Schreurs, who has actually checked out the case and is talking about prospective actions with the involved trainees. “I think it’s a social problem that these are all students who actually need this money, but can’t request [subsidized] legal help since they’re viewed as freelancers”, Schreurs discusses. “They’re truly falling through the cracks.”
The attorney thinks the trainees have an extremely strong case and says that even if the dining establishments did not transfer their salaries, ViaOns would still be required to pay the trainees. But he also thinks the case could be bigger than simply getting the trainees their lost earnings, as he believes ViaOns might be wrongfully dealing with individuals as freelancers rather of salaried staff members. “That would mean they have actually been using extremely low-cost labour while getting rich from it without adding to our social security systems”, says Schreurs.
Securing loans
According to an Excel file they made, the group of sixteen students is owed over 13,000 euros. Serpilin is waiting for the largest amount: almost 4,000 euros. He says he needed to take out loans to pay for groceries and rent. “There have actually been a lot of days that my friends go out and I either join them without getting anything, or I simply don’t go since I can’t afford it.”
Most of all, he would describe the scenario as awkward. “How do you tell your good friends or household that you work 3 days a week, but then suddenly you need to loan money to spend for things? I work every weekend and have nothing to reveal for it.” Martin felt a similar shame when asking his office on 3 various celebrations if they have actually paid ViaOns.
Playing favourites
The 3 students that talked with Ad Valvas seem like the money has been taken from them. “It feels extremely deliberate on their part”, says Martin. The UvA student also believes that the company plays favourites with its employees. He claims to be knowledgeable about certain individuals getting paid before others for the specific same shift.
If somebody starts about not making money in time, the UvA trainee states the business will dabble them and keep stringing them along. “I have actually discovered that if you’re regional and you’re their pal, you’re not going to experience lots of problems.”
But global students who wind up leaving the nation might be less likely to get their cash back. Among them is still owed for working on King’s Day in 2024 and has actually because moved to another nation, the UvA student states.
Ad Valvas has actually been in touch with ViaOns, however ViaOns has actually not yet addressed our questions or supplied a statement. Should they still supply an action, it will be contributed to this article.