Labor concerns have surfaced among workers involved in Camp Nou’s renovation, with cleaners responsible for maintaining the stadium, its canteens, and other facilities raising alarms about conditions and pay. For more than 100 days, these workers, many outsourced, have reported long hours and wages that barely exceed a thousand euros monthly. One worker described the situation as being treated like a machine, not a person. A cleaner using a pseudonym for fear of retaliation, and another worker identified as Assane, who handles cables and also wishes to stay anonymous, have voiced concerns about low pay, long hours, and violated rights.
Is a gross monthly salary of one thousand euros for a 56-hour week fair? The Barcelona Football Club corporate vice-president and the president of Espai Barça told EL PERIÓDICO that the workers are complying with the agreed terms, a claim contested by many involved. The two primary construction contracts in the Barcelona province, including iron and steel specifications linked to Camp Nou subcontractors, show pay cuts on payslips that reduce around 800 euros gross per month plus unpaid overtime as reported by media sources.
Workers at Camp Nou construction sites condemn “labor exploitation”
Extending the workday is described as contrary to the agreement and potentially dangerous. The International Labour Organization recently published a report noting that 745,000 workers die annually worldwide from working more than 55 hours per week. Amid tension and pressure, more workers connected to Limak, the company overseeing the stadium works, are speaking up about working conditions and abuses after watching the documentary in EL PERIÓDICO. Marié and Assane stepped forward to share their experiences, insisting that the situation feels abusive. Barça maintains that the practices are legal, though the workers question that claim and emphasize the perceived unfairness.
“They forced us to say we worked eight hours”
Marié began as a Camp Nou cleaner in June, recalling that she was not interviewed but instructed to report the next day to clean the toilets. Upon arrival, she found herself cleaning corridors, offices, the workers’ dining room, and more, effectively the entire site. The workday began at eight in the morning and ran until seven in the evening, with a half-hour break in the morning and a lunch hour. Saturdays included a half-hour break as well, resulting in a total of 57 hours per week. Supervisors allegedly demanded that workers claim an eight-hour day, a tactic used to disguise longer hours on the books.
The documents Marié presented clash with what her contract states: a maximum 40-hour week, Monday through Saturday, with no allowance for extended days or overtime unless explicitly provided. This discrepancy leaves little room for interpretation and raises questions about compensation for extended hours in the coming months. The atmosphere was described as exhausting and intolerant, with workers feeling monitored and at risk of dismissal if they showed fatigue. Marié, a single mother with long-term residence in Catalonia, described a lack of proper protective equipment and days when gloves and masks were unavailable while bleach was used throughout the shift. The physical toll was evident, with back, hand, and knee pain common, and reliance on painkillers to endure the day.
According to documents she presented, Marié was terminated a few weeks later without signing a severance agreement and without any severance payment. While Spanish law requires formal steps in dismissals, remedies can be pursued in court within a 20-business-day window. Marié also noted that her situation is not unique; several cleaners currently employed at Camp Nou reported similar conditions but declined to share all documents or expose themselves to hospital checks. The sentiment was clear: the job is hard, and there is a sense of needing to push through for the sake of livelihood, even at the cost of personal safety.
Get three hours of sleep at another job
Asane, who started his shift at Camp Nou in July, describes a grueling routine starting at 8 a.m., cleaning cables and other infrastructure. His schedule mirrors Marié’s, with no overtime pay reflected on his pay slips. The contract specifies a 40-hour workweek, yet the reality on the ground is a longer day, with a sense of fatigue that compounds over time. The toll is visible in the weariness carried by staff as they transition from one demanding site to another.
Camp Nou workers when they learned about working conditions: “They are taking advantage of us to make more money”
The Barcelona metalworkers’ agreement outlines a higher official category, with expected gross wages ranging from roughly 1,799 to 1,853 euros depending on seniority and with additional Christmas and summer bonuses. Some workers report receiving between 1,100 and 1,300 euros, below the official scale and far from the anticipated totals. A union source characterized the shortfall as a basic injustice. The law also contemplates compensation for serious breaches of payment obligations.
For many, the money from these roles barely covers essentials like housing, food, and family support. On weekends, some workers double as security staff in nightlife venues, earning late-night shifts that leave them with only a few hours of rest. The overall picture points to a system where management pressure and pay gaps contribute to a sense of mistreatment. One worker mentioned that managers frequently raise their voices and that clothing required for work must be supplied by the contractor, otherwise a separate payment must be made. The lack of pay for overtime hours stands out as a recurring grievance.
Assane spoke about the fear of losing his work and residence status in Spain, a factor that adds to the pressure to stay in the job. He and others who originated from sub-Saharan Africa described difficult paths to stability and the human cost of urgent labor needs. The broader situation at Camp Nou reflects a landscape where workers face physical strain, job insecurity, and a continued demand for documents and permits, all while trying to secure a future for themselves and their families. The accounts from workers emphasize a need for accountability and fair treatment across the board, including proper protective equipment, accurate wage records, and legitimate recognition of overtime and benefits. These voices, though they represent a subset of the workforce, echo a larger conversation about labor practices in high-stakes construction projects and the human costs that often accompany ambitious urban developments.