Last winter, Computer Science student Aaron Serpilin was taking a trip through Sweden by himself. He worked several months to be able to pay for the trip. As he found himself in the remote arctic village of Abisko, he could not pay for to return to the airport. He worked for the cash, but says he wasn't paid on time. "It was irritating having to ask my household for 2 hundred euros to not get stuck on the North Pole", he states.
Similarly, an UvA trainee treated his sweetheart to a getaway in Spain last summer season. He says he was assured he 'd be paid for his deal with time. Instead, he had to ask his family for money and his in too.
Ghosted
Both trainees seem like they've been made the most of by task company ViaOns, and they're part of a bigger group of VU and UvA students who are all attempting to make money. They used the agency because it was a convenient way to get reasonably well-paying hospitality tasks. ViaOns (which means 'through us' in Dutch) connects workers to companies such as restaurants and bars. The incomes are then expected to go through ViaOns to the workers.
The trainees apparently got their money in the start, although there might be a few weeks between doing a shift and earning money. But they state that at some point, the hold-ups worsened, and the trainees wound up being owed large amounts of money for months on end without any trusted indicator of when or perhaps if they would get anything. "I do not know whether they're putting it in crypto or investing it somewhere else. It's a mystery to me why they don't pay their employees", the UvA trainee says.
In the case of Economics and Business Economics student Martin, he states he began asking for his cash after waiting on more than a month. ViaOns told him they were still awaiting the restaurant to pay for his shifts. As another month passed, Martin chose to stop working completely till he earned money. "I was calling like twice a day stating: brother please, I require the cash. I got ta pay for food and my rent."
Martin states he was typically 'ghosted' when requesting his money, or he would be told that they were still waiting on the restaurant. However, the restaurant guaranteed him that his shifts had actually already been paid to ViaOns. He claims the firm still owes him over 1,000 euros. WhatsApp screenshots shared by the students depict a lot of one-sided interaction between the trainees and ViaOns, with the trainees sending out pointer after pointer that they're waiting on pay from a long time back.
Legal action
Serpilin worked 3 days weekly for a number of months to save up for his trip to Sweden. He states he talked to ViaOns before traveling and was assured he 'd get his money on time, once in Sweden, he says he was ghosted and much of his plans were cancelled since he couldn't pay for them.
Despite this terrible experience, he continued to deal with ViaOns and did receive some payments, however it would frequently take a long time and due to the delays he says he was essentially broke, waiting on numerous months of pay. He spoke with friends who were in the very same boat as him and discovered a collection firm ready to assist them get the cash.
With time, the number of students trying to get their money rose to sixteen. The trainees found each other through their own networks, implying they are not always the only ones affected. More just recently, they're talking with a legal representative and dream to pursue a legal case, which has changed their technique of using a debt collection agency.
Societal problem
Providing the students with legal help is a bit tricky according to legal representative Dylan Schreurs, who has actually looked into the case and is going over possible actions with the involved students. "I believe it's a social problem that these are all trainees who really need this money, but can't use for [subsidized] legal aid due to the fact that they're seen as freelancers", Schreurs discusses. "They're really failing the cracks."
The lawyer thinks the students have a really strong case and says that even if the dining establishments did not transfer their salaries, ViaOns would still be required to pay the students. But he likewise thinks the case might be larger than simply getting the trainees their lost wages, as he believes ViaOns may be wrongfully dealing with people as freelancers instead of employed workers. "That would suggest they have been utilizing extremely inexpensive labour while getting rich from it without adding to our social security systems", says Schreurs.
Getting loans
According to an Excel file they made, the group of sixteen students is owed over 13,000 euros. Serpilin is awaiting the biggest amount: nearly 4,000 euros. He says he had to secure loans to pay for groceries and rent. "There have actually been a great deal of days that my pals go out and I either join them without getting anything, or I simply don't go due to the fact that I can't manage it."
Most of all, he would describe the scenario as embarrassing. "How do you inform your pals or household that you work 3 days a week, but then suddenly you require to loan cash to pay for things? I work every weekend and have absolutely nothing to reveal for it." Martin felt a similar shame when asking his work environment on three various celebrations if they have actually paid ViaOns.
Playing favourites
The three students that spoke with Ad Valvas feel like the cash has been stolen from them. "It feels extremely deliberate on their part", says Martin. The UvA student also believes that the business plays favourites with its workers. He claims to be familiar with particular individuals earning money before others for the exact very same shift.
If someone begins 'being frustrating' about not earning money in time, the UvA student says the business will dabble them and keep stringing them along. "I have actually noticed that if you're regional and you're their buddy, you're not going to experience lots of issues."
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But international trainees who end up leaving the nation might be less likely to get their cash back. One of them is still owed for working on King's Day in 2024 and has given that transferred to another country, the UvA trainee says.
Ad Valvas has been in touch with ViaOns, however ViaOns has not yet answered our questions or offered a statement. Should they still supply a reaction, it will be contributed to this short article.
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Students Demand Unpaid Wages From Job Agency ViaOns
stacyfinley632 edited this page 2025-06-25 00:00:15 -04:00