A new labor dispute is escalating in Barcelona as dozens of construction workers involved in the renovation of the iconic Camp Nou stadium have set up a tent camp right at the gates of the sports complex. The reason is mass layoffs that have affected at least 30 people employed by the subcontractor Ramstar. The protests have become protracted, and tensions around the construction site continue to rise.
The situation is complicated by the fact that many of those laid off are now in an extremely vulnerable position. According to union representatives, most of these workers are foreigners without proper documentation, who have not received their wages for months. Their plight is made worse by pressure from employers: people are being forced out of the dormitory where they had lived for almost two years.
Scandal at the Camp Nou construction site
Allegations of labor violations at the Camp Nou construction site have been ongoing for months. As early as last autumn, mass layoffs were recorded at the site—at that time, 50 workers lost their jobs with Limak and Ekstreme Works. This was followed by inspections and multimillion-euro fines for serious violations of labor laws and the employment of foreign workers.
However, even after interventions by labor inspectors and the issuance of fines, the situation did not improve. A new round of layoffs swept through the site in January, when subcontractor Ramstar let go of three dozen employees. According to union data, all of them also had unresolved administrative status and had not been paid for months.
Tent camp
In response, the union organized an open-ended protest outside La Masia—the renowned football academy next to the stadium. Every day, meetings and rallies are held here, and the protesters’ tents have become a permanent part of the landscape. The workers are demanding immediate government intervention and a halt to construction until all violations are addressed.
The weather hasn’t spared the protesters: heavy rain forced organizers to delay the start of the protest, but that hasn’t stopped the determined crowd. They are convinced that only public pressure can compel employers and the football club to acknowledge their problems.
The club remains silent
The football club’s management has drawn particular ire. According to the union, FC Barcelona prefers to ignore what is happening and has failed to intervene, despite the fact that the construction involves their own stadium. Protesters are demanding the club stop disregarding systematic violations and take responsibility for what is happening at the site.
The union is also insisting on immediate intervention by the city authorities. In their view, if nothing changes, officials should suspend the construction license. Otherwise, activists warn, violations will only multiply and workers’ rights will continue to be trampled.
Authorities under pressure
So far, neither the city authorities nor the labor inspectorate have taken decisive action. Protesters fear that without strict measures, the situation could spiral out of control. Meanwhile, the mass layoffs and violations at the Camp Nou construction site have become a subject of discussion not only in Barcelona but far beyond its borders.
The question of how long this standoff will last remains unanswered. The workers have no intention of leaving their camp until their demands are heard. As the football club and contractors remain silent, the fate of dozens of people hangs in the balance.
