Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Fuengirola Council contracted a private investigator firm to investigate the excessive absenteeism of public employees.
Initially the council denied rumours about the hiring, but several sources now confirm the move. The council initially denied the rumours, but multiple sources have now confirmed that the hiring has taken place.
The contract has been awarded to Themis Investigaciones Privadas for €15 thousand after being put out to tender in early August and is planned to run for one year. Official documents state that the initiative is aimed at absenteeism levels “well above national average”, particularly in departments such as Operational Services and Cleaning where absence rates have been reported to reach around 10%. The council described the measure as being “exceptional”. It is not expected that it will be repeated.
Private investigators in Fuengirola will monitor the homes of sick workers
Investigators will begin their surveillance at the employees’ homes, or any other places they frequent to see if the employee is engaging in activities that are incompatible with the temporary incapacity claim or the limited ability. It includes actions such as walking or carrying heavy loads or moving limbs, torso or body parts, driving a vehicle, or doing work for others or themselves. For any conclusions to be substantiated, surveillance must last for a minimum period of three days. This can be extended at the request of the council.
Fuengirola Council defends this plan as being “completely legal”, backed up by positive reports of the department head, the legal advisory team and the contracts department. Rumours within the council suggest that this is not the first time that the local government has taken such action.
However, unions For council workers, the idea is upsetting. They describe it as “Excessive and disproportionate, criminalising workers.”
Junta uses private investigators to monitor ITV employees
Fuengirola has taken the same approach as the Junta de Andalucia, which manages vehicle inspection stations (ITV). VEIASA has contracted private investigation services for €242,000 over 48 months to monitor potential fraudulent sick leave among its staff.
Both cases illustrate a growing trend in Spanish public administrations of using private investigators to reduce absenteeism. This raises questions about workplace privacy and trust.
