Catalina Cabrer is the Balearics minister of employment at a time of record unemployment but low wages and staff shortages. There is now also the debate about the regularisation of status in Spain of immigrant workers.
Employers associations have voiced their support for this initiative by the Spanish Government, a reason being that it would help alleviate labour shortages. The Balearic Government doesn't support it, Cabrer arguing that "these labour problems could also be solved by resolving the pending immigration cases". "What we want is for the immigration office to function properly and for people to integrate legally, not to carry out massive, irresponsible actions, because we believe we need to grow in value, not in quantity."
Cabrer has said that the government's tourism containment limits the need for foreign labour. A counter-argument is that the higher-quality tourism model to which the Balearics aspire requires more staff. In her opinion, this is "debatable". "I'm also speaking as a lawyer who has represented hotel companies. It's not that more people are needed, but rather higher qualifications. That's something companies constantly request, and unions do too."
The government's aim is to reduce seasonality, but are the islands closer to ensuring year-round employment? Cabrer explains: "We are working towards a year-round labour market and a real reduction in seasonality. And we now see that it's starting to happen. As an employment lawyer, I experienced the old days when everything closed in September, seasonal workers left, and everything operated at half capacity until April. Now we have a season that extends until Halloween, followed by the Christmas season and the sales. And in February, 40% of the hotel capacity opens, and in March, 70%."
There has been a situation of technical full employment since the pandemic, but is full employment sufficient to solve the problems of the working class in the Balearics? Cabrer admits that the cost of living on the islands is very high. "But a great deal of work is being done through collective bargaining to raise wages, and the proof is that we are the region with the highest wage increases in Spain. This is a result of the responsibility and maturity of our employers' associations and unions. We have the example of the TIB agreement (for bus drivers), the lifeguards' agreement, and the hospitality agreement, where significant efforts have been made to ensure that wages keep pace with the cost of living."