Spain: Professional Association of Flowers and Plant denounces the intrusion

The Professional Association of Flowers, Plants and Horticultural Technology of the Valencian Community (ASFPLANT) claims that the intrusion suffered by the sector of gardening in Valencia is causing a loss of nearly 35 million euros in the group of companies that do act legally. Technical Services ASFPLANT reveal the widespread existence of firms or freelancers who offer landscaping services completely irregularly, as they are not discharged or Social Security or the official register of producers and operators of means of phytosanitary defense MAGRAMA and also they not have hired a service of prevention of occupational risks, such as is required in both cases. This kind of activity outside the law is a prime unfair competition for companies that do meet all legal requirements.

This situation has reached such a dimension that, according to calculations by ASFPLANT, currently this kind of irregular activities could be three times higher performing companies in the sector who do work under the legal channels. The good reception that the intrusion is based on its strategy to bust market prices. Specifically, illegal labor to offer half the price that companies legally contracted.

The Valencian Community has 236 landscaping companies that move next business volume at 65 million euros. ASFPLANT warning that such illegal practices seriously undermine the viability of firms acting in accordance with the law while threatening dozens of jobs.

The Professional Association of Flowers and Plants considered that the situation is particularly serious and calls on all the authorities with jurisdiction in the matter, such as the Ministries of Finance and Labor or the Department of Agriculture and Environment, to initiate a campaign monitoring, control and inspection to root out the problem.

ASFPLANT has 200 members, all of them small and medium enterprises in the Valencian engaged in the business of plants, flowers, nursery and horticultural technology.

ASFPLANT