Speak Dutch, says Belgian company

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6573369.stm

Speak Dutch, says Belgian company

Language has become a contentious issue in Belgium
A Belgian auto parts supplier has ordered its workforce to speak only
Dutch or risk being fired.

The human resources boss at HP Pelzer, in the Belgian town of Genk,
said the rule was "to avoid cliques forming".

Genk is in Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flemish region but 70% of the
company's 125-strong workforce is non-Belgian.

Half of the non-Belgian workers at the company are Turkish and have
complained to politicians and the union that the rule is aimed at
them.

The rule will be in force at all times, including lunch breaks.

"We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here," human
resources manager Geert Vermote told Reuters news agency.

"It's to avoid cliques forming here and there."

'Three strikes'

Workers found breaking the Dutch-only language rule are to be given a
warning. Three warnings would lead to a worker's dismissal.

Two staff have received written warnings, Reuters said.

Mr Vermote said the "three strikes" policy applied to all of the
company's rules, not just the language prohibition.

"It's really nothing other than other rules we have, such as a ban on
smoking."

Belgium has seen a number of language rows between the Dutch-speaking
Flemish population and the French-speaking Walloons.

On Apr 19, 9:56 pm, sLuGhUnTeR wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6573369.stm

Speak Dutch, says Belgian company

Language has become a contentious issue in Belgium
A Belgian auto parts supplier has ordered its workforce to speak only
Dutch or risk being fired.

The human resources boss at HP Pelzer, in the Belgian town of Genk,
said the rule was "to avoid cliques forming".

Genk is in Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flemish region but 70% of the
company's 125-strong workforce is non-Belgian.

Half of the non-Belgian workers at the company are Turkish and have
complained to politicians and the union that the rule is aimed at
them.

The rule will be in force at all times, including lunch breaks.

"We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here," human
resources manager Geert Vermote told Reuters news agency.

"It's to avoid cliques forming here and there."

'Three strikes'

Workers found breaking the Dutch-only language rule are to be given a
warning. Three warnings would lead to a worker's dismissal.

Two staff have received written warnings, Reuters said.

Mr Vermote said the "three strikes" policy applied to all of the
company's rules, not just the language prohibition.

"It's really nothing other than other rules we have, such as a ban on
smoking."

Belgium has seen a number of language rows between the Dutch-speaking
Flemish population and the French-speaking Walloons.

kus mijn klooten !

On 19 Apr 2007 12:57:17 -0700, sLuGhUnTeR
wrote:

On Apr 19, 9:56 pm, sLuGhUnTeR wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6573369.stm

Speak Dutch, says Belgian company

Language has become a contentious issue in Belgium
A Belgian auto parts supplier has ordered its workforce to speak only
Dutch or risk being fired.

The human resources boss at HP Pelzer, in the Belgian town of Genk,
said the rule was "to avoid cliques forming".

Genk is in Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flemish region but 70% of the
company's 125-strong workforce is non-Belgian.

Half of the non-Belgian workers at the company are Turkish and have
complained to politicians and the union that the rule is aimed at
them.

The rule will be in force at all times, including lunch breaks.

"We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here," human
resources manager Geert Vermote told Reuters news agency.

"It's to avoid cliques forming here and there."

'Three strikes'

Workers found breaking the Dutch-only language rule are to be given a
warning. Three warnings would lead to a worker's dismissal.

Two staff have received written warnings, Reuters said.

Mr Vermote said the "three strikes" policy applied to all of the
company's rules, not just the language prohibition.

"It's really nothing other than other rules we have, such as a ban on
smoking."

Belgium has seen a number of language rows between the Dutch-speaking
Flemish population and the French-speaking Walloons.

kus mijn klooten !

Getverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! But maybe Martin likes them!

"sLuGhUnTeR" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6573369.stm

Speak Dutch, says Belgian company

Language has become a contentious issue in Belgium
A Belgian auto parts supplier has ordered its workforce to speak only
Dutch or risk being fired.

The human resources boss at HP Pelzer, in the Belgian town of Genk,
said the rule was "to avoid cliques forming".

Genk is in Belgium's Dutch-speaking Flemish region but 70% of the
company's 125-strong workforce is non-Belgian.

Half of the non-Belgian workers at the company are Turkish and have
complained to politicians and the union that the rule is aimed at
them.

The rule will be in force at all times, including lunch breaks.

"We have people from Italy, India, Poland, Algeria here," human
resources manager Geert Vermote told Reuters news agency.

"It's to avoid cliques forming here and there."

'Three strikes'

Workers found breaking the Dutch-only language rule are to be given a
warning. Three warnings would lead to a worker's dismissal.

Two staff have received written warnings, Reuters said.

Mr Vermote said the "three strikes" policy applied to all of the
company's rules, not just the language prohibition.

"It's really nothing other than other rules we have, such as a ban on
smoking."

Belgium has seen a number of language rows between the Dutch-speaking
Flemish population and the French-speaking Walloons.