Businessman Arrested in Puerto del Rosario for Exploiting Undocumented Workers

National Police agents arrested a hospitality‑sector entrepreneur on 1 October, accusing him of exploiting several foreign employees who were in an irregular legal situation.

The investigation began after a foreign worker voluntarily reported that she had suffered labor abuses at a café in the municipality of Puerto del Rosario. She explained that she worked without a contract, endured abusive hours, and was threatened by the owner.

Police carried out a series of investigative actions from 22 September to 1 October to identify the person responsible for the establishment. During this phase, officers located two other foreign workers who confirmed they had been employed at the same venue under similar conditions, receiving salaries between €400 and €600, with no vacations or rest periods.

Investigators also discovered that the detained businessman threatened the employees with reporting them for their irregular status and even attempted to obtain personal favors by exploiting his position of authority.

Having gathered sufficient evidence, the National Police detained the entrepreneur on suspicion of a crime against workers’ rights. After the police procedures were completed, the suspect was handed over to the competent judicial authority, while the investigation remains open to determine whether additional victims exist.