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Date Published: 14/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Textile recycling boss arrested in Alicante for exploitation of irregular immigrants
Irregular staff at warehouses in Alcoy and Cocentaina allegedly worked 84 hours a week for 400 euros a month
Alcoy National Police have arrested a 44-year-old Moroccan businessman in Cocentaina accused of exploiting compatriots who worked up to 12 hours a day sorting used clothing, footwear and accessories for a meagre salary of 400 euros a month.
According to the police, at least 15 'staff' were working in "precarious and dangerous conditions" and were allegedly confined to warehouses to avoid drawing attention to the "clandestine labour activities", allegedly run by the detainee, manager of one of the country's largest clothes recycling companies.
The Foreigners and Borders Unit of the Alcoy Police began an investigation into the businessman several months ago after receiving a number of tip-offs alerting to them "irregular activities".
On its website, the recycling firm apparently presents itself as a company that has "trained professionals with a lot of experience in the handling of recycled textiles and in their classification, packaging and treatment".
"What does not appear on the company's website is that while there are workers who are registered, there are other clandestine warehouses where there were immigrants working without contracts or even residence permits, in some cases," according to the National Police.
Investigators were able to locate up to three industrial warehouses in Cocentaina where workers entered at 8am and were locked in all day without ventilation or basic personal protection measures against Covid.
During searches of these warehouses, a total of 15 Moroccan men were identified, most of whom didn't have an employment contract and four lacked residency and a permit to work in Spain.
They were initially detained for failing to have legal residence and later provisionally released.
Meanwhile, the businessman was arrested and charged with a crime against workers' rights.
Image: Policia Nacional
staff.inc.ali
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