It is absolutely unacceptable that employee wages are being tampered with on public prestige projects such as super hospitals and bridges. This type of organized and systematic illegal fraud is scandalous and absurd.
The Albanian company Tekno Fire has now been suspended from three of the country’s largest public construction projects. These include the construction of the Storstrøm Bridge, Odense University Hospital, and Zealand University Hospital in Køge.
The Italian construction giant Itinera, after being contacted by DR, has chosen to suspend its cooperation with the company. As a result, around 270 Albanian employees of Tekno Fire on the construction sites have been sent home.
According to Michael Severinsen from 3F, it is clear that there is a need for stricter legislation in this area.
- The rules are not good enough. It is a free-for-all for unscrupulous companies with bad intentions to be able to cheat and deceive to a degree we have never seen before, he says.
‘Unacceptable’ Conditions
The three construction projects, all with Italian Itinera as the main contractor, have a total budget of around 18 billion Danish kroner.
And the public builders are taking this matter very seriously.
- We cannot live with substandard conditions on our construction sites, says a statement from the Danish Road Directorate, responsible for the construction of the Storstrøm Bridge, where around 15 employees of Tekno Fire have been sent home.
Helle Gaub, Region Zealand’s project director for the construction of Zealand University Hospital, calls it "unacceptable" that such fraud can take place.
However, she is pleased that the contractor has acted swiftly and put the subcontractor on hold.
- We actually think it is good that they are reacting so decisively when something is happening that looks like it is directly illegal and something we cannot accept, says Helle Gaub.
Region Zealand had already increased scrutiny of Tekno Fire since September to investigate delayed wage payments and missing tax payments.
Police Contacted
The documentary ‘At the State’s Expense’ reveals how Albanian workers have to repay parts of their wages to Tekno Fire month after month.
The workers are employed in Denmark through the so-called amount scheme, which requires them to earn at least 487,000 Danish kroner per year before tax.
But the documentary uncovers that they are faced with demands to repay thousands of kroner to their employer every month.
Six employees tell DR that this is a systematic practice for all employees.
Affected by Delays
All three construction projects are already plagued by years of delays compared to the original expectations.
Just this week, it was revealed that the super hospital in Odense will be further delayed by two years, and the daily fines to Italian Itinera are approaching 400 million Danish kroner because the construction is not going as planned.
The project management at Region Southern Denmark, which is building Odense University Hospital, does not wish to be interviewed about the matter today.
But project director Kenneth Holm states in a written response that it is still too early to determine any consequences for the construction in the aftermath of the suspension.
FAQ
- Why was Tekno Fire suspended from the construction projects?
Tekno Fire was suspended due to allegations of tampering with employee wages and engaging in fraudulent activities on public construction sites. - What are the consequences of the suspension for the construction projects?
The suspension of Tekno Fire may lead to delays in the construction projects and potential financial implications for the main contractors involved. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation to ensure compliance with regulations and proper working conditions.