this National Police In Alicante, he arrested the manager of a lifeboat company, two coordinators and nine others. lifeguards Considering that they are practicing their profession in different swimming pools, they are accused of professional trespassing. provincial urbanization relying on training courses provided by a foundation not endorsed by any government agency Valencian Community. Company owner and foundation representative Alicante In addition to trespassing, he was accused of committing crimes against workers’ rights, supporting illegal immigration, fraud, threats and coercion.
This businessman, who assures that all the accusations are unfounded, was held at Alicante Provincial Police Station in the III of the Immigrant Networks and Documentary Fraud Unit (UCRIF) last Monday. after testifying in the police court, where he was defended by Manuel Lucas Amoros and Nicolas Diaz. The two corporate coordinators arrested were sponsored by the same law firm and were released after testifying at police stations on Monday.
The nine lifeguards of the company, six of whom are foreigners and are in an irregular situation that prevents them from obtaining residence and work permits in Spain, were arrested a week ago for professional trespassing and were also released after giving statements to investigators and police. Sources made statements to this newspaper.
According to the police investigation UCRIFLifeguard courses were provided for 500 euros through a non-profit foundation. The course included theoretical and practical classes, but did not reach the minimum number of hours set by law, according to the Police. Students paid 200 euros to start the course and the remaining 300 euros were deducted from their salaries. The police state that the diploma is not delivered to them if the manager has not worked as an internship in the company where the manager claims that the training includes two months of paid internship work, and that the diploma is not delivered if the person concerned does not receive training. Giving.
Police sources say that unapproved training they speculate that any government agency and company has defrauded cities where they have contracted services by recruiting foreign workers who are in disarray and do not have a permit to work in Spain.
The lifeguards informed the police that they work from Monday to Sunday without rest. five and a half euros an hour. The days were ten hours and according to the police investigation, if a person was absent due to illness or any other reason, the corresponding amount was deducted from their salary.
According to information provided by lifeguards to Police, they were held by the company in rental apartments and in an overcrowded situation, between seven and eleven people per household. Each of the lifeguards paid 150 Euro per month for accommodation.
The person in charge of the company accused of interventionism assured this newspaper that the foundation that provides the courses, which was established in 2000, is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science.
Likewise, the Valencia School of Health Research, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, confirmed in June 2009 that the foundation in question is an organization recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science and that one of its aims is to provide first aid training. The said certificate also shows that he gives theoretical-practical courses. “appropriate content and duration for lifeguard training” and it is stated that the certificates issued meet the requirements of the safety circular in public swimming pools.
Businessman assuring that he has working in the industry for thirty years He insists that there is a legal vacuum regarding his lifeguard qualifications, that he has not committed any illegality regarding the training of lifeguards or other offenses charged by the Police. Regarding the accusation that there are foreigners who do not have a residence and work permit, the company manager draws attention to the fact that these people work voluntarily in the foundation and receive a daily wage.
On the other hand, he argues that it is not illegal for lifeguards to work from Monday to Sunday and confirms that the salary of five and a half euros an hour is normal. It shows that the vast majority of lifeguards are young people aged 18-22 who want to work non-stop all summer to earn more money.
The UCRIF investigation of the National Police Immigration Brigade, which resulted in the arrests of 12 people for trespassing and other crimes, was launched following investigations by judicial law enforcement in June. death of a drowning child In a swimming pool in an urbanization in Cabo de las Huertas. The drowning occurred outside of the lifeguard service’s opening hours, but a statement by a lifeguard has prompted a new investigation into the company. For the police, the diploma of training awarded by the foundation is specific and must have not less than 500 hours to be a legal course and must be issued by the Ministry of Labor at the provincial level and in centers approved by the Generalitat Valenciana. According to police sources, this is something that did not happen with the company being investigated. Researchers claim that this is unregulated education and is tried to be charged with formal status and private coursework.