Spanish Culture Department faces investigation over 207 alleged false interns

The State Body for Labor Inspection and Social Security (OEITSS) has opened an investigation into the Generalitat de Catalunya’s Department of Culture. The probe focuses on 207 individuals who reportedly worked as interns between October 2024 and July 2026, allegedly performing structural, non-formative tasks rather than educational ones.

According to investigators, these individuals received monthly stipends of 1,250 euros. The Social Security Treasury has requested 2.16 million euros in unpaid contributions from the administration. In response, the Department of Culture has filed appeals and legal challenges, maintaining that the internships fully comply with legal frameworks and are essentially formative in nature.

The department has paused its internship program for the 2026/2027 period as a precautionary measure while the administrative and judicial processes continue.