Two Businessmen Arrested in Elche for Employing Workers in Irregular and Precarious Conditions

National Police have arrested two businessmen in Elche for allegedly exploiting the irregular status of two foreign nationals to employ them in violation of labour laws. The investigations, conducted in coordination with the Labour Inspectorate and the Police Assigned to the Valencian Community, revealed that the employees worked "without a contract and in precarious conditions," according to the Police.

The first investigation took place in Elche during a traffic control operation by the National Police's Citizen Security Units. During the inspection of a vehicle, officers identified its occupants, the driver and a passenger.

During the initial inquiries, it was discovered that the passenger was a foreign national in an irregular situation working without a contract for the vehicle's driver. The latter, who was carrying a large amount of cash, turned out to be the manager of a footwear company.

The investigation was taken over by the National Police's Immigration Unit, which confirmed that the irregular worker had entered Spain clandestinely a year earlier. For the past seven months, he had been performing maintenance and gardening tasks at a warehouse owned by the driver, working three days a week for six-hour shifts and earning only five euros per hour.

The driver, a 51-year-old Spanish citizen, was aware of his employee's irregular administrative status and allegedly took advantage of his vulnerability to "benefit from his work." The alleged offender has been arrested in Elche, and the incident has been reported to the local Magistrate's Court on duty.

The second case unfolded in Torrevieja, where the Police Assigned to the Valencian Community, in collaboration with the Labour Inspectorate, conducted a search of a commercial establishment. During the operation, two workers in an irregular situation were found performing tasks in a hair salon without a work contract.

The National Police's Immigration Unit confirmed that the employees had no formal contract with the establishment and managed to identify the business owner.

The person responsible, a 51-year-old Moroccan citizen with a criminal record, has been arrested in Elche. His case has been brought to the attention of the local Magistrate's Court on duty.

The National Police remind that irregular employment not only harms workers but also affects society as a whole. Those working without a contract lack basic labour rights such as social security, access to medical coverage, unemployment benefits, or compensation in case of work-related accidents.

Employers are obliged to ensure formal contracts, respecting the minimum wage, regulated working hours, and contributions to Social Security. Hiring workers in an irregular situation constitutes a crime that can lead to significant economic and criminal penalties.

To prevent these abuses, the National Police recommend: Always verifying the legality of a job before accepting any job offer; demanding a work contract, as it is the only guarantee of protection against abusive situations; and reporting any labour irregularities to the Labour Inspectorate or the Police, which have mechanisms for anonymous and confidential reporting.

Citizen collaboration is key to combating labour exploitation. The National Police urge anyone aware of irregular employment situations to report them to the authorities.