Genk (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Hand car washes in Genk, Belgium faced shutdowns due to labor exploitation, environmental violations and failure to follow regulations leading to the closure of all but one car wash.
In Genk there were five hand car wash places. But they had big problems with human trafficking and following environmental rules. Because of these issues, all but one of the car washes had to shut down. The last car wash in Genk had some of the same issues. It had to shut down two times before but got a new permit in October 2023 good for six months. They couldn’t keep going because they had more problems and the permit wasn’t extended.Mayor Wim Dries, from the CD&V party talked about what’s going on. He mentioned they found some problems with how the workers were treated which could be fraud. These issues probably include things like not following the right work rules or treating workers unfairly which are big deals under Belgian laws and city rules.
What challenges do car wash Businesses face in maintaining compliance and community ties?
Running a car wash business means dealing with lots of rules caring about the environment and facing competition. It ha been said that it’s important to follow local rules and laws especially about the environment. This includes getting the right permissions for using water and throwing away waste and doing things like using eco-friendly cleaning stuff and recycling water. Treating workers fairly is also really important like paying them right, training them on chemicals and making sure they’re okay. If businesses stick to these rules they can avoid getting fined or shut down and be known for doing things the right way. To stand out from other car wash places, it’s essential to keep giving great service and connecting with the community. Keeping the place clean and friendly for customers and asking for good reviews can make people trust you more and keep coming back. Getting involved with local groups not only helps you make friends in the community but also lets you deal with any issues early on. Checking regularly and making sure you follow the rules and can adapt to any changes shows that your business is honest and dependable in the market.
The mayor said that the car wash company had to follow some rules to get a temporary permit like keeping a logbook and being honest about what’s going on. When they checked the car wash in January and March it wasn’t following the rules each time.They might not get a permit from Genk anymore. The mayor mentioned that car washes are still welcome in Genk but it seems hard for them to follow all the rules. They want to make sure that good businesses aren’t affected by the ones that don’t play fair.
