A businessman from Spain has been convicted of crimes against workers' rights after illegally hiring 14 Romanian workers.

Inspectors conducted an inspection at an olive farm in Fuente del Maestre, Badajoz, on November 3, 2023, where they discovered 14 Romanian workers employed illegally, without registration in the social security system. They represented two-thirds of the total of 21 workers.

The acts were classified as a crime against workers' rights, according to article 311.3.b of the Spanish Penal Code. The employer acknowledged the facts and accepted a six-month prison sentence, accompanied by a fine of six euros per day for a period of six months.

The court suspended the execution of the prison sentence, considering that the employer had no criminal record. The sentence was pronounced in June, and the case was closed without the possibility of appeal, leaving the employer with a criminal conviction and the obligation to pay the fine. This situation highlights the issues related to the exploitation of seasonal workers in agriculture.