The Labor Inspection opens a file on the Department of Culture upon detecting more than 200 "false interns"

BarcelonaThe Labor Inspectorate has opened a file on the Generalitat's Department of Culture to determine whether over the last few years they have had more than 200 interns performing structural, non-formative tasks. For their part, sources from the Department of Culture explained to the ACN that they have filed allegations and appeals to the proceeding and that they disagree with the agency's conclusions.

Culture stated that the scholarships "fully comply with the legal regime specific to internship scholarships, without the characteristic elements of an employment relationship being present." Sources from the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy confirmed to Efe that it is an action by the State Organization for Labor and Social Security Inspection (OEITSS) that could affect 207 false interns who were receiving 1,250 euros per month for the scholarship.

According to the media, the Labor Inspectorate will claim from the Generalitat 2.16 million euros in Social Security contributions that it did not pay for these interns between October 2024 and July 2026, a settlement against which the Ministry of Culture has filed an appeal for reconsideration, sources from the department explained to Efe.

The scholarship program, "on pause"

The ministry, which has paused its scholarship program "for administrative prudence," maintains that contributions were indeed paid for people who held a scholarship at the institution. "The department is aware of this situation. However, it must be remembered that this is a procedure currently in process and that the actions taken by the Labor Inspectorate are not final until the allegations and appeals filed by this administration are resolved," they recalled from the Culture department.

The Generalitat has also appealed a resolution from the General Treasury of the Social Security, which officially agreed to the deregistration of the scholarship holders and their registration as workers, an appeal that is also pending resolution. The Culture department has requested access to the inspection file and has denounced that it has not yet been able to fully know the background, the facts, or the elements of judgment that have formed the basis of the inspection actions.

Sources from the OEITSS point out that it is an autonomous body that, "as is mandatory, acts upon any complaint and, of course, with the appeal guarantees typical of these procedures." "It is the mandate of the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate to ensure respect for the labor rights of workers, whether in the public or private sphere," they added.