Spain’s national police and local police of the occupied Melilla, arrested on Thursday a Spanish building contractor for exploiting four Moroccans who were in an irregular administrative situation, with 3 being foster minors and one an asylum seeker.
The arrest came after a security patrol observed on October 17th in Melilla four individuals leaving a building and removing debris from one of the construction sites, reported Europa Press Agency.
The four victims were hired to work on a large real estate project without any type of employment contract. They were promised 100 euros each for four days of work but received only a total of 290 euros, causing disagreement and anger among them.
The working conditions of the victims were harsh, with long hours, short breakst, inadequate work clothing, and no employment rights, including health coverage, according to the same source.
The Spanish employer exploited the prone situation of the victims by providing them with work without a contract, paying them extremely low wages.
Upon identification, the police discovered that three of the Moroccans were minors housed at La Purísima Juvenile Center, and the adult was an asylum seeker housed in the Temporary Stay Center for Immigrants (CETI).
The investigation conducted by the Unit Against Illegal Immigration Networks and Documentary Falsities (UCRIF) revealed that the Spanish employer, who was the sole administrator of the Spanish construction company, had not registered any workers since 2022.