Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Three main safety corporations, Securitas, G4S, and Seris, had been discovered responsible of cartel practices spanning 2008 to 2020. They fastened minimal hourly charges, allotted tenders, and agreed to not poach one another’s workers.
Which safety corporations had been concerned in cartel agreements?
Three groups- Securitas, G4S and Seris – have been discovered culpable of cartel agreements, from 2008 to 2020. The Belgian Competitors Authority imposed fines totalling over 47 million euros, with Securitas receiving immunity and G4S and Seris dealing with decreased fines
What had been the primary cartel practices recognized?
They used minimal hourly charges for his or her safety guards. Within the safety sector, the charges of the guards symbolize the most important prices. Additionally they made agreements on the allocation of tenders and contracts. And there have been additionally agreements to not recruit workers from one another.
How did the Belgian Competitors Authority reply to this case?
In line with the Belgian Competitors Authority, these are “critical and long-term cartel agreements” to the detriment of shoppers within the safety sector and your entire financial system.
What had been the monetary penalties imposed ?
The fines are additionally corresponding: greater than 47 million euros. Securitas is exempted from the high-quality beneath a leniency scheme as a result of it was the primary at hand over proof and helped with the investigation. G4S is granted a decreased high-quality of 35.9 million euros beneath this leniency scheme.
That is nearly equal to the document high-quality that a number of supermarkets obtained from the BMA in 2015 for worth agreements with suppliers. Seris is granted a decreased high-quality of 11.2 million euros. The three corporations acknowledge their participation within the cartel and have accepted a settlement.
Who resigned on account of the cartel case?
It concerned massive surveillance and safety contracts in Belgium. There are contracts with Protection and likewise with NATO. The case got here to mild in February 2020. This led to the resignation of Jean-Paul Van Avermaet as CEO of bpost in March 2021. Earlier than he began working at bpost, Van Avermaet was CEO of G4S. Because of the cartel case at G4S, he misplaced the assist of the board of administrators on the postal firm.
What authorized challenges does Jean-Paul Van Avermaet face?
By the way, there may be nonetheless a lawsuit pending in the USA towards Van Avermaet for the worth agreements when he was CEO of G4S. It is because American clients of the corporate in Belgium had been deprived. The case towards him is scheduled for March 24, 2025, within the function of the federal district courtroom in Washington DC.
Lastly, the BMA states that eleven pure individuals have requested and obtained immunity from prosecution. There’s nonetheless a process pending with the BMA towards one particular person. That is mentioned to be Van Avermaet. The previous G4S CEO is claimed to not have requested immunity from prosecution.
In response, Securitas confirmed the settlement with the competitors authority and identified that it had been granted immunity by bringing the matter to the eye of the authority. “The matter was absolutely remedied years in the past and we proceed to work diligently to uphold our requirements and values,” Securitas mentioned.
