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💡 MCHM Lawyers - Lawyers - Bankruptcy Law 📎 Administrators under scrutiny: personal liability for wage debts in times of business crisis 🏠 https://www.mchmabogados.es 🔗 https://www.mchmabogados.es/idiomas/en/abogados-derecho-concursal-almeria ⚖️ Abogados en Almería 📞 950 106 453 / 674 21 65 59 📧 info@mchmabogados.es 👉 Administrator liability for wage debts: legal consequences in 2025 ✨ 💬In the business field, the figure of the administrator of a capital company involves a series of legal duties whose breach may lead to personal patrimonial consequences. One of the most sensitive and socially impactful aspects is liability for wage debts, that is, unpaid obligations the company has with its workers. This article analyzes the current legal framework in Spain, the conditions that trigger this liability, and the legal consequences faced by administrators. ✍️ Legal basis: article 367 of the Capital Companies Law The regulatory basis supporting administrators´ liability for social debts—including wage debts—is found in article 367 of the Revised Text of the Capital Companies Law (LSC). This provision establishes that administrators will be jointly liable for social obligations arising after the occurrence of a legal cause for dissolution, if they do not promote dissolution or bankruptcy proceedings within two months. This means that if a company falls into insolvency or losses that reduce its assets below half of the share capital, and administrators do not act diligently to dissolve it or request bankruptcy, they may be considered personally liable for debts generated from that moment on, including unpaid wages. What is considered a cause for dissolution? The most common legal causes for dissolution are: • Losses reducing net assets to less than half of the share capital. • Manifest impossibility of achieving the corporate purpose. • Paralysis of corporate bodies. • Reduction of capital below the legal minimum. Once any of these situations occur, the administrator has two months to act. Failure to do so activates their personal liability. Recent case law: clarification on when the debt arises The Supreme Court Judgment 192/2025, dated February 6, reaffirmed that administrator liability only activates regarding debts arising after the cause of dissolution. In this case, the High Court analyzed a claim against an administrator for a debt derived from a swap contract and concluded that since the obligation originated before the cause of dissolution, joint liability did not apply. This criterion is especially relevant in the labor field, as it requires precisely determining when the wage debt arises: whether at the time of service provision, on the salary due date, or at the moment of non-payment. Limitation period of the claim: how long does the worker have to claim? Another key aspect is the statute of limitations for claims against the administrator. According to the case law consolidated by the Supreme Court in 2024, the applicable period is the same as for the guaranteed debt, that is, five years under article 1964 of the Civil Code. This means a worker can claim directly against the administrator during that period, provided the debt arose after the cause of dissolution and dissolution or bankruptcy proceedings were not promoted. What must the worker prove? For a liability claim against the administrator for wage debts to succeed, the worker must prove: 1. The existence of a due and payable wage debt. 2. That the company was in a legal cause of dissolution when the debt arose. 3. That the administrator did not promote dissolution or bankruptcy within the legal period. 4. That the debt was generated after the cause of dissolution. Legal consequences for the administrator If the above requirements are met, the administrator may be ordered to pay from their own assets the amounts owed to workers. This liability is joint and several, meaning any creditor can claim the total debt from any of the administrators, without prejudice to them seeking contribution among themselves later. Additionally, in cases of particular seriousness, such as systematic non-payments or fraud, criminal liability may arise for offenses against workers´ rights or for culpable insolvency. Conclusion Administrator liability for wage debts is a powerful legal tool to protect workers´ rights against inaction or negligence by corporate bodies. In 2025, case law has reinforced the need to act diligently in business crisis situations and clarified the criteria for determining personal liability of administrators. For administrators, this implies a duty of constant monitoring of the company´s financial situation and prompt, transparent action upon any signs of insolvency. For workers, it represents an effective way to claim their rights when the company fails to meet wage obligations. ✨ ⚖️ Welcome to the Civil Online process offered by MCHM Lawyers. Through our online platform, we provide you the convenience of completing the entire procedure from the comfort of your home, without needing to visit our office or the courts (except for mandatory procedures). Below, we guide you through each step of the process: Access to your Personal Account: Once you access our website https://www.mchmabogados.es/idiomas/en/inicio-sesion-mchmabogados-almeria [Civil], you can create a personal account or log in if you already have one. From your personal account, you will have access to all necessary tools to complete the Civil process. Document Upload: From your personal account, you can upload all necessary documents to initiate the Civil process. This includes text, image, and any other relevant documents for your case. Notifications and Requests Reception: Once you have uploaded your documents, you will receive notifications and requests through your personal account on our online platform. These notifications will include information on your case status, any required actions from you, and important communications related to your Civil process. Process Tracking: From your personal account, you can track your case progress in real time. This includes information about hearings, court rulings, and any other relevant updates. Communication with your Lawyer: Through our online platform, you will be able to communicate directly with your assigned lawyer. You can make inquiries, ask questions, and receive personalized legal advice at any time during the process. Judgment Reception: Once the process is completed, you will receive the final judgment through your personal account on our online platform. This judgment will include any decisions made by the court regarding your Civil case. In summary, our Civil Online process offers you the convenience and flexibility to complete the entire procedure from the comfort of your home, without needing to visit our office or the courts (except for mandatory procedures). With access to your personal account on our online platform, you can upload documents, receive notifications, communicate with your lawyer, and track your case progress in real time. At MCHM Lawyers, we are committed to providing you the best possible service throughout the entire Civil process. ✨ 📖 lawyers in almeria 📍 For more information, do not hesitate to contact MCHM Lawyers. ✍️ ⚓️ Personal liability, wage debts, company administrators, unpaid wages, cause of dissolution, legal action, personal assets, affected workers, legal noncompliance, legal consequences, Capital Companies Law, joint liability, two-month deadline, labor claim, worker protection

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