The administrator of a hospitality business in Puerto del Rosario has been arrested for hiring undocumented immigrants for years, without registering them with Social Security and paying them in cash.
The National Police have arrested the administrator of a hospitality business in Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) as the alleged perpetrator of two crimes against workers' rights. The investigation, dubbed 'Operation HORNEO', has lasted over two years and uncovered a continuous system of hiring foreign citizens without residence or work permits.
A two-year investigation with eight victims
Officers from the Local Brigade of Immigration and Borders, in collaboration with the Labour Inspectorate, conducted several inspections at two hospitality establishments in the capital of Fuerteventura between 2024 and 2026. There, they identified eight foreign workers who lacked residence and work authorization and were not registered with Social Security.
Statements from several workers revealed the conditions under which they carried out their activities. They performed duties in customer service, cooking, baking, and cleaning, receiving remuneration of approximately 1,200 euros per month or between 30 and 55 euros daily, always in cash and without a work contract.
One witness stated that she received explicit instructions to leave the establishment, deny the existence of the employment relationship, and hide the work uniform in case of an inspection. The responsible party was fully aware of the employees' irregular situation, which he allegedly exploited to impose burdensome conditions and limit their rights.
Fines exceeding 170,000 euros
Parallel checks revealed a extensive history of administrative violations in labour and immigration matters by the investigated individual and his company. The accumulated fines exceed 139,800 euros, to which a new proposed fine of 30,003 euros from the latest inspections is added.
The administrator was arrested on July 10 and placed at the disposal of the duty court in Puerto del Rosario. He is charged with two crimes against workers' rights for repeatedly employing foreigners without authorization and subjecting them to abusive working conditions.
The police operation highlights the fight against labour exploitation in the hospitality sector of Fuerteventura, an economic pillar of the island where the high season demands labour. For the residents of Puerto del Rosario, this arrest serves as a warning: inspections are ongoing and workers' rights are being closely monitored.
The case is proceeding through the judicial system, and the detained individual is expected to testify in the coming days. Authorities remind that any citizen can report similar situations anonymously.
You may also like
