Luxury gym Saints & Stars is at the centre of a growing scandal, as former cleaners allege they were offered money to deny they were mistreated.
The case is already being investigated for labour exploitation, but recent developments now raise concerns about a possible attempt to cover up the abuse.
Cleaners say the gym tried to buy their silence
According to Het Parool, five cleaners from the Philippines were each offered €5,000 by Saints & Stars. After taxes, the amount would have been around €3,000.
In return, they were asked to sign a statement saying they had “always been treated well” during their time at the gym.
The offer came after the workers had already filed a lawsuit seeking €60,000 each in damages, which they say is a clear attempt to silence them and cover up their experiences.
READ MORE | Stolen passports, 78-hour work weeks: How this luxury Amsterdam gym exploited its cleaning staff
Saints & Stars denies that a formal settlement was ever made. The gym says the figure was fair, especially for workers who were only employed for a short time.
The cleaners disagree, insisting that the length of their contracts does not justify the conditions they faced, which they describe as part of a “toxic work culture” at the gym.
Their case is now moving through the legal system, though a court date has not yet been set.
Long hours and overcrowded housing
The case first drew attention in July, when Het Parool published testimonies from cleaners who spoke of extremely poor working and living conditions.
Some reported shifts lasting up to 17 hours a day and said they were forced to hand over their passports.
Many were housed in a villa owned by gym founder Tom Moos, where up to four people had to share one bed.
Saints & Stars denies the allegations of exploitation. The gym says it is cooperating fully with the investigation by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate and has suspended the cleaning management team.
Can Saints & Stars recover from this scandal, or has the damage already been done? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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