Balearic Islands on the road to development A new sustainable tourism model that supports social cohesion. The hospitality industry is a key player in the Balearic economy and is essential in this paradigm shift. Improving employment in this sector allows for improvement in citizens’ competitiveness, economic efficiency and quality of life.
Tourism represents the main wealth-generating sector in the Balearic Islands, which is at the forefront of this transition towards sustainability. Sustainable tourism activity combines economic wealth creation with social justice and quality employment.. In this context, social dialogue between economic and social actors is essential.
The Balearic Islands are an example of the importance of consensus among the main social actors to advance labor and social developments. An outstanding example is found at: II tripartite agreement for the quality of employment in the hotel industry. Some of this social dialogue between unions and employers, in which the Balearic Government participated as mediator through the Ministry of Economic Model, Tourism and Labor, was reflected in the collective agreement for this sector for the period 2023-2025.
Developments in the Balearic hospitality industry
Agreement between trade unions and trade associations in the Balearic Islands to improve the hospitality industry, benchmark for other regions where tourism and hospitality are an important part of their economy.
One of the main advances in the new contract is an 8.5 percent salary increase over two years. But beyond Salary improvements include significant improvement in job quality, especially for cleaners.Those who have been demanding better working conditions for years.
The agreement between the Balearic Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (IBASSAL), relevant unions and trade organizations will allow hotel businesses to apply a methodology to measure and control the workloads of this group.
Improvements for workers
adaptation measures to reconcile personal, family and work life It also represents an improvement in the quality of life for the group working in the hospitality industry compared to current European regulations.
The social dialogue resulted in an agreement for the parties. Improving the occupational health of employees in the accommodation sector. A commission will promote occupational health by acting against the accident rate and monitor the implementation of measures to reduce the workload of housekeepers. In this sense, more employment of occupational risk prevention technicians specialized in ergonomics will mean a great improvement in the employment quality of these employees, who have an important role in the accommodation sector.
In parallel, during the two years the agreement is in effect, a working group will be formed between catering and entertainment employers and unions to analyze issues specific to this sector. The Balearic Islands are a pioneer in the formation of an organization with these features that will help create quality employment.
Broad and unanimous negotiation between hotel employers; together with the bar, cafe and restaurant associations, the Leisure and Entertainment Association and trade union organisations, it guarantees a higher degree of compliance at all agreed points, both in the collective agreement and in the tripartite agreement with the support of the Balearic Government. , through the Ministry of Economic Model, Tourism and Labor.
Sustainable economic growth
Tourism activity has strongly contributed to the 13% economic growth recorded in 2022 in the Balearic Islands.rates well above the national average leading to a recovery in the rest of the country. This development has also been reflected in full employment and has a prominent role in the accommodation sector. This sustainable pattern of employment and working conditions results in greater social welfare on the islands.