Melilla Business Owner Arrested for Exploiting Stranded Moroccan Workers

The investigation conducted by the Unit against Immigration Networks and the Labor Inspectorate revealed that the managers of a DIY company had taken advantage of the precarious situation of the 5 foreigners, including 4 Moroccans, to exploit them without a work permit or social security coverage.

According to the police, the victims, who were assigned the tasks of transporting and assembling kitchen furniture, worked for 11 hours a day, with a 20-minute break, for a remuneration of 20 euros per operation.

The case of a Moroccan employee, victim of a work accident, revealed the company’s abuses. Seriously injured in the arm, the man had been threatened by his employer to push him to give up filing a complaint with the authorities. Forced to provide for his family of 8 members, the Moroccan continued to work for the same company, despite his health condition and the lack of medical and social coverage.

In total, 3 Spaniards and a Moroccan-Spaniard, who acted as an intermediary, were prosecuted for crimes related to workers’ rights, including the exploitation of foreign nationals without a work permit and the violation of the legal provisions in force.