Unheard Cries for Help: Exposing Exploitation in Spain's Strawberry Industry

Monday 15 April 2024 - 12:20

In a harrowing expose, allegations have surfaced against a Spanish strawberry farm owner for intimidating and exploiting Moroccan day laborers who sought assistance from independent associations due to the farm's failure to uphold their contractual obligations. This incident sheds light on a pervasive issue within Huelva's strawberry industry, where systematic breaches of labor regulations are widespread.

A revealing audio recording, obtained by journalist Perico Echevarría of La Mar de Onuba magazine, captures the owner's hostile demeanor. "Are you suggesting there are issues on the farm? Are you all here or in Morocco? Get out!" he can be heard shouting at the workers.

However, this incident merely scratches the surface. Echevarría asserts that these companies routinely flout the Gecco Order (ISM/1417/2023), a regulation guaranteeing migrant workers a minimum 39-hour workweek with corresponding compensation, including overtime pay. He estimates that this results in an annual fraud exceeding €100 million by these berry-producing companies.

Compounding the issue is a glaring lack of transparency. Ana Pinto, co-founder of Jornaleras de Huelva en Lucha (Women Day Laborers in Struggle), highlights the absence of contracts in the workers' native languages and the omission of crucial income details. Moreover, she alleges that workers are underpaid by €5 per overtime hour compared to their legal entitlement.

Exploitation extends beyond financial compensation. Pinto exposes instances of sexual assault against female workers by their superiors, while both Echevarría and Pinto decry the appalling sanitary conditions endured by the workers. Shockingly, workers' health cards are reportedly withheld until they fall ill, effectively denying them medical attention without their employer's presence.

The case of Laila (pseudonym), a Moroccan worker with a valid contract, is particularly distressing. Upon the owner discovering her amputated fingers, a result of diabetes, she was summarily terminated and instructed to "return to Morocco."

The pervasive lack of transparency, exploitation, and callous disregard for workers' well-being within Huelva's strawberry industry paints a grim picture. As the pleas for help from these migrant workers fall on deaf ears, the imperative for immediate action and accountability has never been more urgent.