“It is good that additional checks are now being held, but Amaranth should have checked years ago whether their on -call workers are reliable.” That is what Michiel van Erp of Zorgvakbond Nu91 says. The Brabant healthcare institution has large deficits because the reliability of temporary workers is being doubted. An employment agency with which Amarant does business is suspected by the Health Care and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) of fraud with, among other things, diplomas and statements regarding behavior (VOG).
The inspection has warned that unauthorized staff may have been hired. Amarant has therefore tightened control and selection criteria. For example, hiring forces must be able to show the correct diplomas and a VOG in their next service. If the on -call workers cannot do that, they will be sent home.
“You must always strictly check who you have in.”
In those checks, Van Erp can fully agree on behalf of NU91, but the employer must always be so sharp as far as he is concerned. “An employer is and remains responsible for who is working in healthcare.”
Nevertheless, Van Erp must note that it is no longer an exception that an employment agency that is active in the healthcare sector is suspected of fraud with diplomas and VOGs. “It is a signal that we as a trade union get more often. That people abuse the staff shortages in healthcare and want to earn money without the right paper, over the back of vulnerable people.”
“This kind of signals of fraud are certainly not new in healthcare.”
He finds that very bad, but at the same time Van Erp thinks that Amarant should have ‘prevented this. “It is really a duty of employers to strictly check this and to know who you have inside.” He does not understand that Amarant is so shocked. “Because these signals are certainly not new in the sector and more and more is coming out.”
According to Amarant, the investigation of temporary workers is still ongoing, but have not yet been sent home unauthorized temporary workers. That is striking, especially since the care institution is begs its staff to run extra services because of the problems surrounding the temporary workers. According to a spokesperson for Amarant, that is a precautionary measure, for if unauthorized staff is still found.
“Extra help remains desperately needed.”
Amarant does not want to say anything about the size of the personnel problems, but the worries are great. A message to the employees states that “it is a challenge to use enough employees at some locations. Extra help remains desperately needed.”
And so an urgent appeal is made to the permanent staff to make extra hours. A bonus arrangement by two months has been extended to pull people. Those who want to work more in the coming months will receive 50 to 75 euros on top of their existing salary per service.
“Seducing extra work is asking for problems.”
Michel van Erp questions this bonus. “Staff in care for the disabled is already being overcome. The workload is extremely high. By tempting staff to work even more, there is asking for problems.” And problems are also enough in the sector without fraudulent employment agencies and fake care staff.
According to Van Erp, the staff shortages in particular are due to the systematic underpayment in healthcare. “Healthcare staff remains in the salary compared to other public sectors and then you get little or too few people.”
