La Sirena owner calls Saturday refusers 'rats'
José Elías, owner of La Sirena, labels those refusing Saturday work as 'rats', sparking debate on wages and labor conditions in Spain.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
La Sirena owner calls Saturday refusers 'rats'
On May 26, José Elías, owner of the frozen food chain La Sirena and Audax Renovables, stated in an interview that "if you are happy living like a rat, that's fine," referring to those who refuse to work Saturday mornings. The quote, reported by El Economista, has peine the debate on working hours, precariousness, and Spanish business expectations.
The businessman's calculations
Elías' argument is direct: those facing economic hardship should be willing to work overtime, including Saturdays, to improve their situation. "There are people living like rats who aren't willing to work a Saturday morning," he claimed. Criticism was immediate. Opponents point out his fortune was built in a sector where margins and opaque commissions have been questioned. Audax Renovables, his other business arm, faces sanctions from the CNMC (Spanish Competition Authority) for fraudulent client practices (October 2022) and a complaint for alleged money laundering (September 2024).
The electricians' alternative
While Elías defends Saturday work, the thread revealed a resonant fact: self-employed electricians charge between €50 and €60 per hour, with monthly incomes around €3,000-€4,000. This option clashes with the discourse that only working more hours lifts one out of poverty. "Working Saturdays won't make you rich; time is the most valuable asset," summarizes a dominant view. Demand for vocational training (FP) professionals, especially electricians, is high, but bureaucracy to become an FP teacher requires 200 hours of coursework and five years of experience, deterring many experts.
The Elías empire history
Criticism targets not just the message, but the figure. With an estimated fortune in the hundreds of millions, Elías has been accused of being a frontman and benefiting from public subsidies. His network of La Sirena stores, often described as "always empty," raises doubts about his business model. Demands for transparency mix with suspicion that the entrepreneur represents a caste seeking to maximize labor exploitation while enjoying his yacht. "If I were the government, I'd send inspectors after him," one analysis ironically notes.
The debate leaves an uncomfortable conclusion: while business discourse insists on a lack of work ethic, data shows that even working Saturdays doesn't cover end-of-month expenses in major cities. Perhaps the problem isn't laziness, but wealth distribution.
Related forum debates
On May 26, José Elías, owner of the frozen food chain La Sirena and Audax Renovables, stated in an interview that "if you are happy living like a rat, that's fine," referring to those who refuse to work Saturday mornings. The quote, reported by El Economista, has peine the debate on working hours, precariousness, and Spanish business expectations.
The businessman's calculations
Elías' argument is direct: those facing economic hardship should be willing to work overtime, including Saturdays, to improve their situation. "There are people living like rats who aren't willing to work a Saturday morning," he claimed. Criticism was immediate. Opponents point out his fortune was built in a sector where margins and opaque commissions have been questioned. Audax Renovables, his other business arm, faces sanctions from the CNMC (Spanish Competition Authority) for fraudulent client practices (October 2022) and a complaint for alleged money laundering (September 2024).
The electricians' alternative
While Elías defends Saturday work, the thread revealed a resonant fact: self-employed electricians charge between €50 and €60 per hour, with monthly incomes around €3,000-€4,000. This option clashes with the discourse that only working more hours lifts one out of poverty. "Working Saturdays won't make you rich; time is the most valuable asset," summarizes a dominant view. Demand for vocational training (FP) professionals, especially electricians, is high, but bureaucracy to become an FP teacher requires 200 hours of coursework and five years of experience, deterring many experts.
The Elías empire history
Criticism targets not just the message, but the figure. With an estimated fortune in the hundreds of millions, Elías has been accused of being a frontman and benefiting from public subsidies. His network of La Sirena stores, often described as "always empty," raises doubts about his business model. Demands for transparency mix with suspicion that the entrepreneur represents a caste seeking to maximize labor exploitation while enjoying his yacht. "If I were the government, I'd send inspectors after him," one analysis ironically notes.
The debate leaves an uncomfortable conclusion: while business discourse insists on a lack of work ethic, data shows that even working Saturdays doesn't cover end-of-month expenses in major cities. Perhaps the problem isn't laziness, but wealth distribution.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (169 replies).
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