The CEO of PostNL Belgium Rudy Van Rillaer, and his deputy remain in custody after employment law police raids on two depots in the country last week. Both were due for release on Monday but an appeal was lodged against it.

The Belgian indictment chamber must now sit again within 15 days to consider whether to extend the remand period further.

Last week the Antwerp Federal Judicial Police raided two PostNL depots in the country as part of an investigation into undeclared work. Nine people were detained, six of whom were released after a few hours.

Late last week a court in Mechelen allowed them to be released, with the CEO being released under conditions including that he had to remain available to the police. This was appealed by the Labour Auditor, though the third executive, the site manager of the Willebroek depot, was released without conditions.

The Belgian authorities are investigating alleged human trafficking, and illegally employing people at the two parcel depots. Under Belgian law, even if a subcontractor has employed people who don’t have employment rights in the country, the main business can be held responsible – in this case, PostNL.

The two depots at Willebroek and Wommelgem remain closed while the investigation is underway.