Three individuals in charge of a renovation and cleaning services firm in Alicante were arrested on at least one count of workplace abuse. A group of 21 immigrants were placed at the disposal of the Alicante Court of Investigation. The three suspects, two men and one woman of Spanish nationality, allegedly exploited the workers by hiring them without formal contracts and forcing them to endure excessively long shifts.
Most of the victims reportedly came from refugee backgrounds. According to the National Police, the workers endured days that stretched to approximately 12 hours with no definitive end in sight, and they were allowed only a single rest day per week.
Regarding pay, authorities indicate that employees received far less than what a standard employment contract would stipulate. Some victims had been employed by the company for two years. Those arrested allegedly exploited the workers by taking advantage of their irregular status, knowing they had little or no alternative income sources [National Police].
The arrest followed an investigation conducted by the National Police after the UCRIF III Anti-Illegal Migration Networks and Document Fraud Unit of the Alicante Provincial Police Office obtained the initial information.
Investigation
In the early stages of the probe, officers learned that the company was operated by two individuals, a man and a woman, recorded as self-employed, who reported three employees. Despite Social Security records showing different data, the investigation uncovered roughly 25 people wearing company insignia and moving in and out of the offices with cleaning supplies and kitchen tools. They were observed traveling to various buildings around the city of Alicante in vehicles owned by the cleaning firm to perform cleaning duties [National Police].
The company representatives cooperated with a labor inspector from Alicante, and together they conducted an inspection and search of the business premises.
Check
During the inspection, a total of 29 people were present in the offices: two were company representatives and 27 were other workers. Only three of the total employees were enrolled in Social Security. The remaining 24 workers did not have formal employment contracts, and 21 of them were in an irregular situation in Spain [National Police].
In light of these events, authorities arrested two company representatives and the individual in charge of the firm for membership in a criminal group suspected of aiding irregular migration and violating workers’ rights [National Police].
A “B account”
Investigators also found accounting records that were not part of the official books. The case continues to be explored to determine whether those detained engaged in additional offenses, including potential money laundering. The broader impact on the industry has been noted by the National Police, which pointed out that illegal practices can skew market conditions and reduce legitimate competition by offering services at prices far below standard industry costs [National Police].
The police commented on the competitive dynamics of the sector, noting that illegal activity can distort pricing and lead to a collapse in labor costs, enabling certain operators to undercut legitimate firms and erode industry standards [National Police].