Spain Ministerio Trabajo News

Operación Balarama: 80 Victims Freed, 7 Arrested in Spanish Labor Trafficking Ring

On April 11, 2026, the Guardia Civil dismantled a criminal organization in Castellón province that had enslaved 80 migrants (77 men and 3 women, ages 20-35) in agricultural labor exploitation. Seven individuals were arrested for human trafficking and labor rights violations. The organization used false employment offers on social media to recruit victims from Nepal, Pakistan, Senegal, and Arab countries, then imposed debts and forced them to work 12-13 hour days without pay in harvesting tasks. The network, led by a Pakistani couple, operated across multiple comarcas in Castellón and Valencia with a main settlement in Nules.

Operation Naturke: Cádiz Police and Labor Inspection Arrest Businessman for Fast Food Labor Exploitation

On April 15, 2026, the Policía Nacional arrested a businessman in Cádiz province under Operation Naturke for suspected labor rights violations and facilitation of irregular immigration. The investigation, conducted jointly with ITSS Cádiz inspectors, uncovered labor exploitation of foreign workers in kebab fast food establishments across five municipalities: Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Serrano, Prado del Rey, and Bornos. Inspections on March 12 revealed infractions including excessive working hours without rest days, constant video surveillance, verbal abuse, threats, and below-legal wages. Additional violations were identified in immigration documentation and Social Security registration of workers.

REDIBIT Launches Construction Safety Campaign Targeting Fall, Entrapment Hazards

The Organismo Estatal Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (OEITSS) announced Spain's participation in REDIBIT's first joint Ibero-American labour inspection campaign focused on the construction sector. The campaign runs through 15 June 2026 and involves construction-site visits targeting three primary hazards: falls from height, ground collapse, and worker entrapment. Inspections will follow standard procedures, with data collected across participating countries for joint analysis to identify common problems and develop shared solutions.