the Minister of Justice, Integration, Public Transport, and Energy, mr. drs. Arthur Dowers, met with the management of the Department of Integration, Management, and Admission of Foreigners (DIMAS) to receive a full update regarding the situation that has arisen in the building where both DIMAS and the Department of Labor (DAO) are located.
Over the past few days, several incidents have been recorded regarding concerns about the working environment in the building. The week began with several DAO employees becoming ill at work, resulting in a preventive evacuation of the building to conduct further testing and evaluations. On Tuesday morning, another situation arose involving a strong and unpleasant odor on the ground floor, causing employees who attend to the public to temporarily leave the building.
According to the preliminary report from the Department of Public Health (Directie Volksgezondheid), based on the results received from various tests, all findings fell within acceptable standards and do not indicate any situation that poses an immediate danger to public health or to the health of employees or clients.
However, Minister Dowers understands that the concerns expressed by the employees are legitimate and deserve serious attention. The safety and well-being of employees and clients remain a priority for both the management of DIMAS and Minister Dowers. During the meeting, Minister Dowers received a comprehensive briefing regarding the preliminary results, the ongoing investigations, and the next steps DIMAS is taking to guarantee a safe working environment.
Minister Dowers emphasized that various scenarios are being evaluated to limit any effects on DIMAS’s productivity and to ensure that the public continues to receive the necessary services.
