The two main unions, CCOO and UGT, are once more highlighting problems faced by workers in the hotel sector in finding accommodation.
Ginés Díaz of the CCOO federation for this sector points to the bay of Palma, Paguera, Santa Ponsa and the whole of the north of Majorca as being the most problematic. Rents are so high that employees can't afford accommodation near to places of work. Díaz criticises hoteliers for not having acted more swiftly in seeking to secure accommodation. This is despite the fact that the same situation existed last year. She estimates that 20% of workers are affected.
The Majorca Hoteliers Federation agrees that there are problems in the north of the island in particular. This extends from Pollensa across the whole of the bay of Alcudia round to Capdepera. The federation says that hotels will need to contract bus companies to take employees to and from work.
Díaz points out that workers used to have accommodation in hotels. These rooms were gradually turned over to guests and the rents for them went up as well. This forced employees to look elsewhere. The unions both maintain that the hoteliers have broken agreements in this regard. The next round of negotiations will take this into account. Accommodation will be an issue along with hours and salaries. There may be specific demands to compensate employees for the cost of renting.
The Balearic Hotel Chains Association says that hoteliers are doing what they can but are unfortunately not able to cover all accommodation needs. In certain instances, hoteliers are renting properties all year in order to ensure they keep hold of them for the summer season.
The hoteliers federation puts the blame on the "phenomenon of holiday rentals". The government has to control this in order to change the situation.
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Well Simon Tow, you obviously don't know Palma Nova or Magaluf very well. For your information, from right through the '70's to around 7 years ago we had a 12 month season. The hotels were packed full and busy through the winter, Tourists had to book for Christmas well in advance, and many local businesses looked forward to the influx of winter tourism as the busiest time for them. The entertainers made the most money of their working year, and were also booked up 6 months in advance. Calvia has always generated the most income in Mallorca, and held 2nd place for wealth in all of Spain. Today it's a ghost town for half of the year, with all the related problems associated with it.
Simon. The part-time summer workers do not want to share, niether can they pay the rent in the winter months. Even if there whole blocks of flats to let they couldn't rent them. That can't change until we have a 12 month season again, as has already been said here.
Frank,I know quite a few married couples, both working in the hostelery business, who have diifficulty renting a DECENT apartment at a reasonable price.Even the national police, who have an all year round job and are given an extra to subsidise their rent, are refusing to come here in the summer due to the prices they are being asked to pay.You say quote "12 month season again". We have NEVER had a 12 month season, and even so, the problem was never so acute as it is now. Personally, I blame it mainly on all the long term i.e. spring, summer and autumn rentals being taken off the market to cater for the short and very short ( days and weeks ) term rentals that are now, or have been, in such demand.
Simon. The part-time summer workers do not want to share, niether can they pay the rent in the winter months. Even if there whole blocks of flats to let they couldn't rent them. That can't change until we have a 12 month season again, as has already been said here.
IF they could find somewhere to rent, yes it would be.
I don't get this at all. Why are we so surprised that someone who only gets 5 or 6 months wages a year cannot pay 12 months rent. The only solution for part-time workers is to share with someone else isn't it.
Nobody has mentioned "sea front" rents. They can´t afford any rent, full stop. This problem has arisen since AirBnB type short term rentals have emerged, whilst, at the same time, long term, i.e. 6 to 10 month rentals, have completely disappeared.Business is business I can hear people saying, but most of them will either have a long term rental contract ( have they asked themselves what will happen when it finalises ?) or are lucky enough to have been granted a mortgage. This is not only a problem in Mallorca. A lot of european cities have started to realise that the short term benefits gained by churning tourists in their city is counter productive and detrimental to the interests of their long term ( and tax paying ) citizens and are starting to do something about it.It seems that they are here as well, or at least starting with the basics.
Hotel employees cannot afford the seafront rents, which are now higher because the season has become so short. This is why the only solution going forward is for the hotels to return to staying open in the winter; - that is a cure-all. Until that comes about these headlines are pointless.
Nor strange that Again the problem is not the hoteliers fault!! Blame illegal rentals or Brexit the choice is yours.