‘Widespread’ use of private detectives on staff

Employers are increasingly using private investigators to spy on staff according to a report by the Commons’ home affairs committee on private detectives, reports De Tijd. The CSC union even talks of the existence of a network of about 50 detectives who help companies find incriminating material. This would allow employers to get rid of employees cheaply, including union representatives. “Such practices are hard to believe, but the current legislation allows them,” says Jan Cappelle of the federal public service for home affairs. “It is a genuine cause for concern, which is why I favour a nationwide agreement between employers and employees to resolve the issue. Then we can finally determine clearly what is allowed and what is not.” According to Cappelle, the use of private detectives has become widespread. “Some big firms like Coca-Cola, Carrefour and Inno have their own detectives. But there are only about forty such companies. Most businesses rely on private investigators.”