The National Police arrested four people for allegedly abusing 16 people at work. In “semi-slavery conditions” at fast food outlets in the province of Barcelona. The detainees are two foreign couples who run businesses in Barberà del Vallès, Castellar del Vallès and Polinyà (Barcelona), police said.
Thus, they “take advantage of the need and vulnerability” of the victims, all of whom were foreign nationals and ten of whom were in Spain in an irregular state.
They were forced to so-called “tireless work”, without paying any economic compensation, without an employment contract, and Social Security. They lived in the same building in “zero hygienic-healthy conditions”, in an unventilated, corrupt and dangerous environment.
Police began their investigation in April and the detainees are attributed to: Alleged Crimes Against Workers’ Rights, Foreign Citizens’ Rights and Electricity Fraud. They were released on charges after being handed over to the Sabadell (Barcelona) Investigation Court.