On 30 June Catalonia’s regional government, the Generalitat de Catalunya, presented the results of an open inquiry into Telefónica’s chain of suppliers and subcontractors which offer technical installation services in the region. The investigation began one year ago in collaboration with the region’s labour inspectorate. 322 legal proceedings have been opened against suppliers for violations of labour law and Telefónica may be deemed subsidiarily liable, having given out the relevant order in half of these cases. The accumulated penalties incurred amount to a total of 5.7 million euros. The investigation was led at the behest of the trade unions to which the technicians belong. The installation staff have denounced their working conditions.
Josep Ginesta, the general secretary of the Generalitat’s labour and social affairs department says the investigation unearthed “an improper subcontracting network”. Mr Ginesta says the aim is to emphasise the importance of responsible employment and ensuring decent working conditions. He says the problem is not subcontracting in itself, but the way the regime can be used to violate the rights of workers. “We cannot say everything is acceptable in the name of economic recovery, there are reason
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