Short answer. Yes. Article 1727 of the Civil Code states plainly that the contractor is responsible for the work done by persons employed by him. If a worker the contractor hired caused damage in the course of the work, the contractor — not just the individual worker — bears legal responsibility for it.
What the law says
The contractor is responsible for the work done by persons employed by him.
Civil Code, Article 1727 — Contractor's Responsibility for His Workers. Read the full provision →
The rule: contractors answer for their workers
Article 1727 is one of the shortest articles in the Civil Code, but its effect is direct: the contractor is responsible for the work done by persons employed by him. When you hire a contractor to build, renovate, or repair something, you are dealing with the contractor — not individually with each carpenter, welder, or labourer on the site. The contractor, in turn, answers for what those workers do. This makes the contractor the single point of accountability for the construction activity on your property.
Why this allocation makes sense
The contractor controls who works on the site, how they are supervised, what methods and materials they use, and how the work proceeds day to day. The property owner generally has no direct authority over the workers or visibility into their individual skills and conduct. Placing responsibility on the contractor reflects this reality: the contractor chose the workers, directed the work, and is in the best position to prevent and remedy problems. Holding the property owner to track down and sue individual labourers would be neither practical nor fair.
Scope of the responsibility
The article covers work done during the course of the contractor's engagement. If a worker employed by the contractor damages your property — breaks a wall that was not supposed to be touched, floods an area through careless plumbing work, or causes structural harm — those acts fall within the contractor's responsibility. The contractor cannot escape liability simply by pointing at the specific worker who caused the harm or by arguing that the worker acted against instructions. The responsibility is for the work the contractor undertook through the people it chose to employ.
What to do if a contractor's worker damaged your property
Document the damage immediately: photographs, video, and a written record of what was damaged and when it occurred. Notify the contractor in writing, describing the damage and requesting remediation or compensation. Keep copies of your contract with the contractor, which may include provisions on liability and insurance. If the contractor refuses to take responsibility, you may have a legal claim directly against the contractor based on Article 1727. A lawyer can help you assess the extent of the damage, identify the proper amount to claim, and advise on the most effective way to pursue recovery.