Authorities investigate case of minors working illegally in Sønderborg Municipality, Denmark

Authorities in Southern Jutland are investigating a case involving minors illegally working at a site in Sønderborg Municipality, where asbestos-containing roof panels were being removed. Police have deemed the situation serious and anticipate that the investigation will take some time.

The investigation is extensive, examining whether there may have been violations of laws pertaining to human exploitation, particularly focusing on whether the children were recruited to work under obviously unreasonable conditions. This follows an inspection visit to a rural property in Sønderborg Municipality that occurred a month ago, leading to 14 immediate notices from the Working Environment Authority.

The case involves six children between the ages of 12 and 16, employed by the company LM Multiservices, which faces allegations of hiring minors for hazardous work involving asbestos. Reports indicate that the children were not provided with necessary protective equipment while handling the material.

According to the findings of the Working Environment Authority, there were critical safety violations noted, including visible asbestos remnants left on the construction site. Additionally, the dismantled panels, which should have been stored in sealed packaging, were found improperly stored on pallets without any covering. The waste was also not labeled as asbestos, which is a legal requirement.

The Southern Jutland Police received notification of the case on October 10, with the investigation expected to continue for several weeks due to potential multiple violations. As of now, no charges have been filed.