The activity of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate in Cantabria between January and October 2023 has led to more than 13 million euros in fraud and sanctions and has regularized the employment situation of almost 4,000 workers.
This was highlighted by the Government delegate in Cantabria, Ainoa Quiñones, and the Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade, Eduardo Arasti, this Wednesday after the meeting they had with the territorial director of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate, Miguel Ángel Gálvez, before the celebration of the Autonomous Operational Commission of Cantabria of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate.
At the meeting, they reviewed the activity developed by this organization in the areas of prevention of occupational risks, employment and labor relations, social security, irregular economy and foreigners.
As explained by Quiñones, the inspection work until October has allowed the regularization of the labor situation of 3,964 workers and, of the more than 13 million euros that have been collected thanks to the actions of the inspectors and sub-inspectors, more than 8.7 million correspond to Social Security liquidations and the other 4.3 million to sanctions.
The government delegate in Cantabria stressed that these figures are achieved thanks to “the excellent work carried out by the inspectors and sub-inspectors of the administration”, who carry out an “important and valuable joint work” in the Labour Inspectorate through which job insecurity and fraud are combated.
In the same vein, the Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade has highlighted “the effort of inspections”. He also stressed that the results obtained “demonstrate not only the importance of the Labour Inspectorate but also the need to further intensify the monitoring of labour regulations.”
SOCIAL SECURITY AND CONTROL OF THE ILLEGAL ECONOMY AND FOREIGNERS
The delegate of the Government in Cantabria has given an account of the state matters framed in the work of the Inspection. Within the Social Security Area, a total of 583 infractions have been detected, with just over 2,122,259 euros in penalties and affecting 1,124 workers.
Settlements have also been made in the amount of 8.71 million euros in cases of lack of social security contributions, and 127 claims have also been extended against companies for breaches of social security regulations.
In addition, it has indicated that, in the area of Irregular Economy and Foreigners, 108 infractions have been detected, 200% more than the previous year, and that they have affected 825 workers, sanctioning the employers who occupied them irregularly with 870,782 euros.
Quiñones has highlighted the “firm commitment” to workers’ rights and has praised that the Labour Inspectorate is “a key body for the defense of labour rights” and, therefore, the Government of Spain works to strengthen it with “important structural transformations”.
OCCUPATIONAL RISK PREVENTION, EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR RELATIONS
As for the areas of regional competence, in Occupational Risk Prevention, 31 campaigns have been developed on material conditions of safety and health at work, prevention management, investigation of work accidents and investigation of professional diseases.
Within the framework of these, the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate has carried out 6,550 actions, issued 1,519 requests and processed 185 complaints. Sanctions in this area have amounted to more than EUR 1 million.
On the other hand, in the Area of Employment and Labor Relations, the Inspection has carried out more than 1,812 actions and has extended 387 requirements. As a result, a total of 535 contracts that were in an irregular situation have become indefinite. In addition, through the Plan of Clash with Fraud in Temporary Contracts, another 983 contracts have been regularized. From this area, sanctions have been imposed for 346,266 euros.
PERFORMANCES FOR 2023
With a view to 2024, it has been agreed to carry out 102 campaigns with 7,535 service orders to be completed by the inspection system in Cantabria.
These actions include those aimed at the prevention of risks in the field of adverse weather conditions, construction in special research of minor accidents, prevention with a gender focus and in relation to temporary contracting.
In labour matters, priority will be given to the monitoring of working time and registration of working hours, recruitment, salaries and special employment centres. In the field of Social Security, the fight against fraud, against irregular employment, fictitious companies and lack of contributions will be the basic axes of action and, finally, in the field of irregular economy, action will be taken in sectors of activity with irregular situations, scholarship holders, platforms and electronic commerce, false self-employed, and actions coordinated with the State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT).