Podcast Summary:
Un tema Al Día – La casa de Julio Iglesias (V): Destino Marbella
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Juanlu Sánchez (elDiario.es)
Key Guests: Ana Requena (Redactora Jefa de Género, elDiario.es), Elena Cabrera (Periodista, elDiario.es)

Overview

This episode continues the exclusive investigation by elDiario.es and Univisión Noticias into the working conditions and alleged abuses suffered by employees—particularly female domestic workers—in the homes of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. This fifth installment focuses on his property in Marbella, Spain, revealing how staff from the Dominican Republic were brought to Spain under dubious circumstances and made to work in challenging, irregular, and illegal conditions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context: From Terror to Marbella

• The investigation spans three years and includes testimony from over 15 former and current employees.
• Prior episodes addressed the atmosphere of fear in Julio Iglesias’s houses and a well-oiled system designed to please the singer.
• New revelations shed light on practices within Spanish borders, not just overseas.

Notable Quotes

• "Datos y relatos que aportan detalles al retrato de una vida que no tiene que rendir cuentas a nadie."
  — Juanlu Sánchez ([00:05])

• "Una vez me agarró durísimo así por la cabeza y me metió la lengua... Yo me quedaba como en shock."
  — Testimony quoted by Ana Requena ([01:38])

2. Bringing Workers to Marbella: Visas and Compliance

• Several women were brought from the Dominican Republic to work in Marbella using a Schengen tourist visa, not a work permit—a practice confirmed by three separate women.
• The legal gray area: tourist visas permit short stays and certain activities like conferences, but not paid employment.
• Procedures involved a letter from Julio Iglesias to the Spanish consul in the Dominican Republic, promising to cover all expenses.
• Workers were instructed to identify themselves at immigration as “guests” of Iglesias, not as workers.

Notable Quote

• "En esa carta él dice que si necesitan cualquier información que no dude en contactar con él."
  — Ana Requena ([04:33])

Timestamped Segment

• [04:23] How Iglesias arranged for workers to be moved to Marbella with tourist visas.

3. Working Conditions: Unregulated Labor

• In both the Dominican Republic and Spain, workers had no employment contracts or registration with social security—illegal under Spanish labor law.
• Wages remained extremely low (about €340/month), without formal payslips. Occasional cash was handed out for personal purchases.
• Hours were exhaustive (12+ hours), with virtually no time off, controlling both movements and personal lives.

Notable Quote

• "Nadie por estar en España, les hace un contrato o les da de alta de la Seguridad Social."
  — Ana Requena ([08:52])

• "Un sueldo irrisorio por jornadas maratonianas."
  — Juanlu Sánchez ([09:37])

Timestamps

• [08:52] Working conditions, salaries, and lack of contracts in both countries.

4. Legal and Ethical Implications

• The practice constitutes a clear irregularity in Spanish law, possibly rising to a criminal offense against workers’ rights.
• Domestic work, especially when brought under tourist visas, falls into a “limbo” legal situation—often exploited with little oversight.
• Precarious conditions were compounded by heavy restrictions on personal freedom—workers rarely allowed to leave the property and strongly discouraged from befriending each other.

Notable Quotes

• “La condición que pone para decir que sí a venir a España temporalmente es poder ver a su hija antes de irse.”
  — Ana Requena ([08:04])

• "Personas que están a tu libre disposición... aunque sea a costa... que esas mujeres no libren, no puedan salir."
  — Ana Requena ([15:39])

Timestamps

• [06:29] Explanation of the correct procedure for work visas vs. what was done.
• [15:24] On the control over workers’ personal freedoms and relationships.

5. Complaints and Judicial Proceedings

• Three male maintenance workers in the Dominican Republic (the Villanueva brothers and Evanson Lindor) sued Iglesias for unfair dismissal and lack of proper severance, alleging their roles were misclassified as domestic work to reduce benefits.
• Initial rulings sided with the workers, but Iglesias continues to appeal, contesting the higher indemnities.

Notable Quotes

• "[El Juez] fijó una indemnización superior porque pensaron que habían sido vulnerados algunos derechos."
  — Elena Cabrera ([13:23])

• "Nos ha llamado mucho la atención que una persona que tiene la riqueza... sea capaz de perseguir en todas las instancias de la justicia dominicana el pagar una indemnización..."
  — Elena Cabrera ([14:08])

Timestamps

• [10:49] Details on male maintenance workers’ lawsuits.

6. Evidence and Limitations

• While prior episodes contained testimony of sexual abuse in the Dominican Republic, the journalists confirm they cannot, at this time, report verified incidents of sexual abuse in Spain.

Notable Quote

• "Estamos publicando únicamente lo que tenemos estrictamente contrastado."
  — Ana Requena ([17:18])

Timestamp

• [17:01] Question about incidents in Marbella and journalistic rigor.

7. Broader Significance and Systemic Issues

• The situation in Iglesias’s houses highlights a “laguna legal” (legal loophole) that leaves many domestic workers in vulnerable, exploitative positions.
• These conditions are not unique to this case but are emblematic of domestic labor issues for migrants worldwide.

Notable Quote

• "Eso forma parte un poco de esa laguna en la que luego caen estas personas..."
  — Ana Requena ([18:36])

Timestamp

• [18:36] The importance of exposing these abuses and the broader systemic issues.

Memorable Moments & Closing Thought

• The emotion-laden testimonies of women recounting their shock, control, fear, and lack of agency (e.g., [01:38]) give a powerful human dimension to the investigative findings.
• The image of a legal “limbo” that exploits the weak underpins the entire episode’s theme.

Additional Information

• This episode is part of an ongoing collaborative investigation between elDiario.es and Univisión Noticias, with reporting and research by Ana Requena, Elena Cabrera, and their teams.

For extended details and continued updates, visit eldiario.es.