Two Arrested for Exploiting Illegal Immigrants to Renovate Tourist Apartments in Alicante

Working nine-hour days in unsanitary conditions was the daily reality for 14 foreign workers in an irregular situation employed in the renovation of two tourist apartments in Alicante. The National Police have arrested two men, aged 55 and 34, who were overseeing both projects.

The immigrants, originating from Latin America and Eastern Europe, worked in unsanitary conditions, with some even sleeping on mattresses on the floor of the same apartment they were renovating, without access to a bathroom and with several appliances connected to a single power source. The workers purchased their own construction materials and did not speak Spanish, according to police sources.

The investigation began after receiving information about a person allegedly using irregular foreign labor for construction work in tourist apartments. The operation was handled by the Provincial Brigade of Immigration and Borders of the Alicante Provincial Police Station.

Initial investigations confirmed that people of Latin American origin, wearing stained work clothes, were entering the properties. Additionally, a second nearby site was found with Eastern European workers in the same situation. The evidence led to the deployment of a team for the simultaneous inspection of both properties alongside the Alicante Labor Inspection.

In the first site, three men in an irregular situation, aged between 36 and 60, were found, although a fourth man aged 53 and a woman who had previously done cleaning work were later discovered, none of whom were registered with Social Security. The inspection confirmed that these workers lived at the work site, sleeping on mattresses on the floor with minimal hygiene facilities. They worked from Monday to Friday for nine hours a day, earning 75 euros in cash daily.

At the second site, ten workers aged between 20 and 43 were found, most of whom did not speak Spanish. They performed tasks under precarious conditions, having to purchase their own materials. Of these, three were in an irregular situation, and none were registered with the company.

The person responsible for the first site was a 55-year-old man with a criminal record for other offenses. The manager of the second site was a 34-year-old man. Both were located and arrested in the town for the alleged crime against workers' rights. The proceedings were reported to the Alicante Guard Court of Instruction.