The National Police have detained four individuals in connection with serious alleged abuses affecting sixteen workers at fast food sites located in the Barcelona region. The arrests involve two foreign couples who operate businesses in Barberà del Vallès, Castellar del Vallès and Polinyà, according to police statements.
Authorities indicate that the suspects exploited the vulnerability and needs of the workers, all of whom were foreign nationals, with ten of them in Spain without official status. This pattern of exploitation points to a calculated manipulation of immigration and precarious labor situations to extract labor without fair compensation or formal employment arrangements.
Evidence collected by investigators suggests the victims were subjected to what authorities describe as relentless labor under conditions described as unsafe and unsanitary. The accused groups allegedly provided No pay and no documented contracts or Social Security coverage, while living and working in the same building under what authorities characterize as severely substandard living conditions. The environment reportedly lacked proper ventilation and exposed workers to hazardous and unhealthy surroundings.
The police began the inquiry in April, and the detainees face charges linked to alleged offenses against workers’ rights and foreign nationals’ rights, in addition to an alleged case of electricity fraud. After processing, the suspects were released on charges by the Sabadell Investigation Court in Barcelona. The case highlights ongoing concerns about labor exploitation and the protection of migrant workers in the region. [Source: Policía Nacional]