Restrictive Freight Handling – Spain

The European Commission has referred Spain to the EU Court of Justice over the practice of cargo handling companies.  In some of the major ports such as Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao, are not allowed to employe staff on the open market.  The
Spanish law insists that private companies called SAGEPS are set up in important ports; these companies are responsible for recruiting dockers and making them available to cargo handlers. This is a restrictive practice.