13/09/2013 00:00
TW
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Palma.—The Secretary General of the National Workers Commission Javier Gonzalez, and his counterpart in the Balearics, Angeles Sanchez reported in Palma that “on the contrary, instead of there being more jobs in food and drink businesses serving the tourist industry this year, staffing levels have been lower and the terms and conditions of employment are worse”.

Both Gonzalez and Sanchez said that because of the pressure on a limited workforce in what is the most important economic activity of the region, the quality offered to tourists has been “precarious.” Sanchez said that business should be made more profitable and slammed what he referred to as “fraudulent” practice in the hiring and firing of staff. He said that collective bargaining agreements were not being adhered to and staff were being forced to work “irregular” hours. He added that the government's much vaunted campaign to lengthen the tourist season appears to be going in the opposite direction.

Gonzalez pointed out that consumer spending as well as those by tourists is declining at an “alarming” rate and that for the first time since the start of the crisis, people were now starting to spend less on food. A CCOO demonstration is to be held in Madrid on 24th September backing workers' rights.