The price of hiring and the arrival of workers in Mallorca have created double challenges at the start of the tourist season. One issue is the serious difficulty that many tourism companies face in replenishing their staff, since numerous residents from the peninsula were reluctant to relocate to the island this year because of the high cost of finding a home. A second problem arises when some employers provide housing that, at times, packs too many people into a single building. In such cases workers may be asked to forgo at least one of their two days off in exchange for a roof over their heads. Local authorities overseeing some Balearic operations indicate that workers should not be expected to offer anything in return.
The appearance of so‑called “patera flats” and the designation of a “tourist worker” housing scenario remains a thorny topic. Even trade unions face a dilemma: workers may accept these conditions simply to secure a place to sleep, and complaints can surface publicly when families with small children are involved.
A Balearic Islands union leader reports visiting such properties in recent weeks, both in northern Mallorca and in Eivissa, and has been sharply critical of the overcrowding he observed. The facilities inspected were small, cramped, and congested in both locations.
Criticisms from the unions run along two tracks. First, there is concern about bunk beds being added well beyond the number of residents the homes were designed to hold, effectively increasing capacity. Second, there is anger over workers being pressured to compensate employers by surrendering a weekly rest day in exchange for a room and without any monetary compensation.
As noted, cases of this kind of housing for seasonal workers are most often detected in Eivissa and, in Mallorca, in its northern and eastern zones where there is heavier reliance on workers from other autonomous communities each year.
excessive workload
Yet the unions also worry about behind‑the‑scenes difficulties in organizing. Many employers report trouble finding the necessary workers to fill all positions, prompting concerns that current staff will have to shoulder more work to bridge the gap.
Such an escalation would not only threaten the quality of service but could also pose health risks to workers at a moment when the island’s tourism regulations are being revised. The changes aim to raise working standards across the sector and improve conditions for those employed in hospitality, food service, and related fields.
In this context, the Labor Inspection is expected to play a pivotal role this coming summer. Its task will be to identify excessive workloads and any coercive conditions imposed on workers that violate the industry agreement, with reports from unions serving as key input. The broader debate about how to address the detected instances of overcrowded housing is an ongoing conversation that will shape policy discussions.
There is broad agreement that rental prices in Mallorca remain a significant barrier to relocating peninsula workers. The situation is compounded by the two pandemic years of limited activity, during which many wage earners left the hotel, restaurant, and nightlife sectors and sought steadier work in trade or construction, contributing to greater stability elsewhere.
homelessness
The president of the Balearic Islands College of Realtors confirms the problem exists. During the pandemic, many homeowners paused selling their properties during the tourist season, preferring long‑term tenants or vacation rentals targeting foreign visitors, which kept rental values high and reduced supply for local workers staying for short hires.
Natalia Bueno notes limited housing options for workers arriving on the islands in summer, which explains why some hotel companies rent properties to their own staff. Still, API leadership agrees with unions that overcrowded housing conditions for employees are unacceptable and must be addressed.
KEYS
RENTALS: ‘Patera apartments’ for tourist workers
The rental problem is driving some tourism firms to offer housing to peninsula workers with cases of overcrowding and illegal exchanges of services for lodging.
LACK OF WORKERS: Excessive workload on missing templates
Unions warn that companies struggle to fill vacancies, which could lead to increased workloads for current employees.