Camp Nou construction under scrutiny over irregular workers and dismissals

The government has warned that the Labour Inspectorate will "continue to act" if irregularities are detected at the ongoing construction works at FC Barcelona's Spotify Camp Nou stadium.

The CCOO trade union reported on Tuesday that subcontracted companies have begun dismissing undocumented workers and sending them back to their countries of origin "without guarantees," despite having worked for more than a year and endured long shifts.

Speaking at a press conference, Labour Secretary Paco Ramos confirmed that the results of a complaint submitted by the union at the end of September regarding the presence of workers in irregular situations at the company Ekstreme Works are expected within a few weeks.

Since construction began, ten complaints concerning irregularities on the site have been submitted to the Catalan Labour Inspectorate (ITC), according to the Department of Business and Labour.

CCOO raises alarm

The CCOO trade union has raised the alarm over the dismissal of 14 undocumented Turkish workers at the Camp Nou construction site, employed by Ekstreme Works.

According to the union, the subcontracted company for main contractor Limak has begun dismissing workers to "send them back to their country without any guarantees" now that construction is advancing.

The union filed a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate in September over the presence of irregular workers, and authorities conducted an investigation, the results of which have not yet been released.

The CCOO has urged the authorities to urgently process residence and work permits for workers who can prove they have been working for more than six months.

The union has called for commitment and involvement from FC Barcelona as the project promoter, as well as from the Spanish government delegation, which oversees immigration matters.

The CCOO has called upon FC Barcelona, as the project's promoter, and the Spanish government delegation, responsible for immigration matters, to take responsibility and intervene.

The union also condemned the subcontractors' complicity and lack of regard for the workers, calling for their immediate reinstatement and the payment of all outstanding wages, including any unpaid social security contributions.

Open training

FC Barcelona will temporarily return to the Spotify Camp Nou on Friday, November 7, for an open-door training session, as announced by the club on Friday.

The session will technically and operatively test the new infrastructure, which is still under construction, as part of the stadium's progressive reopening. The club will test several systems during the training day.