Spain: Civil servant fined after skipping work for years | Inquirer News

Spain: Civil servant fined after skipping work for years

/ 11:27 PM February 12, 2016

MADRID — A Spanish court has ruled that a civil servant who failed to show up to work for years must pay back nearly 27,000 euros ($30,500) in wages.

The employee of a city-owned water utility didn’t appear at the office for up to six years and “did absolutely no work” from 2007 to 2010 prior to his retirement in 2011, said the ruling issued last month and provided to The Associated Press Friday.

It didn’t explain why the absence of the worker, who cannot be named under Spanish law, went undetected for so long.

Article continues after this advertisement

Former Cadiz Deputy Mayor Jorge Blas told the El Mundo newspaper he initiated the investigation when city officials were about to give the worker a certificate honoring 20 years of service and realized he hadn’t been seen at the water utility for a long time after transferring there from a city hall job.

FEATURED STORIES

The utility said it thought the worker had transferred back to city hall and the worker had no response when asked what tasks he had recently performed, Blas told the newspaper.

Cadiz city officials sought the penalty of one year of his net pay, the worker appealed and the latest court ruling marked the end of a legal fight that had lasted years.

Article continues after this advertisement

Current Deputy Cadiz Mayor Martin Vila told reporters Friday he was amazed that “a person could be hired for years and collecting (pay) without doing anything whatsoever.”

Article continues after this advertisement

The case has also taken on political undertones, with Vila citing allegations the worker had been a victim of workplace “bullying” by members of the conservative Popular Party. It ruled Cadiz from 1995 to 2015 before it was ousted by a far left coalition led by the Podemos party.

Article continues after this advertisement

Vila didn’t provide more details but said the allegations “would be despicable if confirmed.”

The worker’s lawyer, Fernando Lepiani, didn’t respond to messages seeking comment. TVJ

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Cadiz, Popular Party, Spain, workplace

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.