The Labour Inspectorate in the Netherlands is now investigating the abuse of 23 migrant cleaners by Saints and Stars Gym, a popular gym for the wealthy and celebrities with multiple branches in Amsterdam, the country’s capital. Twelve of them are Indonesian and 11 are Filipino. The migrant workers filed complaints with the police, Fairwork, and the Labour Inspectorate regarding abuses that violate the country’s labor laws.

They said they were made to work more than 12 hours a day, six days a week, for nearly five months. Their supervisor seized their passports, and sometimes they were not paid. Eleven of them are made to stay in four small rooms. The employer threatened withholding workers’ one month’s salary if they complained. All these violations breach the country’s Minimum Wage and Minimum Allowance Act and Working Hours Act. The migrant workers also have no work permits.

Following the investigation, the Public Prosecution Service arrested the company’s accountant on possible charges of falsifying documents and company records.

Company owner Tom Moos at first denied the abuse allegations but later admitted his company might have committed some errors. Many Dutch celebrities have since dissociated with the gym, and some have called for a boycott of its facilities because of the case.

The migrant workers’ struggle gained support from migrant communities and Dutch citizens.

“When we knew about the fundraiser [to support us], we were overwhelmed. We have had very bad experiences with Dutch people, but now Dutch people want to help us. Thank you to the Dutch community for helping,” the workers said.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Europe plans to launch a protest on August 8 to demand justice for the workers. The organization will also hold a dialog with Philippine Embassy officials to discuss the workers’ situation on the same day.