"If you don't want it, there are many black people who want to work with us": three arrested in Palma for labor exploitation scheme

PalmaThe National Police have arrested three managers of a company in Palma accused of being part of a criminal group that allegedly exploited workers in an irregular situation in Spain. The investigation suggests that at least five people were victims of these practices, even though the company had up to twenty contracted workers.

As reported this Tuesday by the National Police in the Balearic Islands, the investigation began last June following the complaint of a worker who claimed to have been coerced by the company's owners after suffering a work-related accident. The man explained that, upon taking medical leave, the company managers pressured and threatened him to return to work despite his injuries.

Given his refusal, the main suspect allegedly began to monitor him at his home. According to the complaint, a person linked to the owner followed him and recorded him with a mobile phone, while investigators also discovered that a GPS device had been placed on his private vehicle to monitor his movements. The Police took statements from several witnesses, who corroborated the complainant's version.

Differences between regular and irregular workers

The investigation has also uncovered the alleged working conditions to which workers in an irregular administrative situation, mostly of Latin American origin, were subjected. According to investigators, the company officials made distinctions between regular and irregular workers. While the former enjoyed rights such as holidays or severance pay, the latter did not have access to them.

Furthermore, the workers would have been forced to perform particularly complex tasks without specific training or safety measures, as well as to manually handle heavy loads with the consequent physical risk. Investigators also maintain that the officials forced some workers in irregular situations to drive company vehicles despite not having a driving license in Spain. Although many had a license in their country, they were threatened with dismissal if they refused to drive. According to the Police, the arrested individuals also belittled these workers with expressions such as: "If you don't want it, there are many black people who want to work with us".

Joint inspections

Within the framework of the investigation, agents from group UCRIF 1 of the National Police and inspectors from Social Security carried out three inspections at the company's headquarters. During these operations, seven workers were identified, three of whom were in an irregular situation and four others resided legally in Spain.

Investigators also attribute to the company's management an irregular waste management, as they allegedly dumped rubbish and even chemical waste in public bins without any control.

The three detainees are accused of the alleged crimes of belonging to a criminal group, aiding irregular immigration, crimes against the rights of workers, and against the rights of foreign citizens. The investigation remains open and the Police do not rule out further arrests.