The sports school chain Saints & Stars, which has come under scrutiny, will no longer participate in the Canal Parade. The company says its presence could distract from Pride.
“This moment is not about us,” Saints & Stars wrote in a statement on Instagram on Tuesday. The sports school chain is giving its place in the boat parade to the Pride Amsterdam community. “They ensure that the boat becomes a platform for their stories.”
On Friday, Het Parool wrote that Saints & Stars would exploit Indonesian and Filipino cleaners. They would work twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and not always be paid. They would also be housed in a house where they sometimes had to sleep together in bed.
The CEO of Saints & Stars claimed on Sunday that the accusations in Het Parool and the findings of the labor inspection are largely incorrect. However, managers have been suspended. The founder does not want to say whether everything Het Parool states is incorrect. “It is possible that we have made mistakes.”
Het Parool has also examined WhatsApp messages, images and e-mails in addition to conversations with those involved. The labor inspectorate has confirmed that during raids on four locations of an Amsterdam sports school chain, 23 employees were found without the correct papers, although the name of the sports school was not mentioned.