Police shut down 16 shops in Matonge Gallery

A major police operation on Saturday involving 200 officers led to the closure of 16 shops in the Matonge shopping arcade in Ixelles.

A total of 48 businesses and 67 employees were investigated. Sanctions were handed out for illegal employment, violations of legislation on part-time employment and failure to immediately report the hiring or dismissal of employees.

“The operation went well, there were no incidents,” said Valentina Marocchi of the Labour Audit Office, adding that the Audit Office is not yet able to disclose the charges against the 16 businesses.

Images of the large-scale police operation circulated on social media, where videos showed dozens of officers suddenly forming a cordon in front of the shopping gallery and then moving inside.

The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone was assisted in the operation by the federal judicial police, the public prosecutor’s office and the Labour Inspectorate, along with inspectors from the Brussels Regional Employment Inspectorate. Representatives from the finance ministry were also present.