Galician Employment Minister linked to winery sanctioned for illegal hiring

José González, the Galician Minister of Employment and Migration, is facing scrutiny regarding his ownership of Mirador de Banga S. L., a company that shares a registered address with the family-owned Bodegas Casal de Armán.

Labor inspectors sanctioned the family business in September 2025 after discovering three undocumented African migrants harvesting grapes in the vineyards without contracts, social security registration, or accident protection. While González claims he stepped away from family business operations in 2018 and has no knowledge of the winery’s hiring practices, his 2024 asset declaration confirms he still holds a 39% stake in Mirador de Banga S. L., an entity dedicated to the exploitation and commercialization of grapes.

The situation has sparked political debate in the Parliament of Galicia, with the PSdeG demanding explanations. The controversy links the regional labor policy leadership to a business group recently penalized for labor violations.