Spot checks on trucks at Zeebrugge reveal major failings

Police and inspection services have reported that no fewer than 86 out of 168 lorries checked at Zeebrugge are not fulfilling requirements for rest periods.The large-scale control operation involving 110 police officers and inspection staff in two car parks at the Belgian port focused on transport companies’ compliance with social and labour laws.“Every weekend, hundreds of drivers, mainly from Eastern Europe, take their weekly rest period in Zeebrugge. Despite the employers’ legal obligations, the working and living conditions of these drivers often leave much to be desired,” said the police.Frédéric Martin, a chief inspector at Belgium’s f…