The Valencian Government has decided to equalize the working conditions of research staff within its administration to those of the health sector. As this newspaper reported over the past weekend, the regional Executive approved a decree-law of urgent measures that standardizes professional categories and salary terms for researchers employed by public sector foundations and institutes affiliated with the Health Department. Because they belong to the Generalitat’s instrumental sphere, these workers previously faced conditions that diverged from those applied to Sanidad employees.
The regional government will allocate a total of six million euros to bring salaries into line with the national framework, according to the Health Minister, Marciano Gómez, who spoke alongside spokesperson Ruth Merino after the weekly meeting of Carlos Mazón’s administration. The updated equivalencies will be published in the Official Journal of the Valencian Community (DOGV). [Source: Valencia Government]
The minister highlighted that the rule complies with the national Biomedical Research law by granting an equivalent treatment across researchers and health workers, and it is secured through a statutory status. It also addresses what Gómez described as the sector’s lack of recognition by the central Ministry of Science, led by Diana Morant, now the leader of the PSPV. [Source: Valencia Government]
The Valencian Executive’s announcement carries a clear political message, coming just a week after the president, Carlos Mazón, announced the immediate hiring of 200 professionals in this sector. While framed as a routine alignment, the move is seen as a political maneuver aimed at challenging the central Government, and more pointedly Morant. [Source: Valencia Government]
Once the regional Parliament endorses the decree-law, it will underpin a new legal framework for professionals in the public sector’s research foundations and institutes that manage biomedical research in the health system. This aligns with recommendations from the regional Audit Office in its latest review, underscoring the need for consistent governance in the health research workforce. [Source: Valencia Government]
In the crosshairs of the Audit Office
According to the Health Minister, the research staff situation has drawn scrutiny from the Audit Office, which in its 2023 report criticized the economic and personnel management of these bodies for non-compliance and gaps, such as applying collective agreements without the necessary favorable reports from the Finance Department, and the failure to present Workforce Position Relations (RPT), a mandatory process. [Source: Valencia Government]
The audit also highlights salary misalignments, noting that some researchers receive compensation outside their contractual terms or without the required contractual authorization. It also points to pay disparities among workers depending on the foundation they belong to. [Source: Valencia Government]
Under the new rule, the Consell argues that these differences are resolved, since the harmonization will occur not only horizontally among research and biomedical bodies but also vertically by converging with health system staff. [Source: Valencia Government]
The Valencian Community currently hosts six public research institutes: IIS La Fe, Incliva, Fisabio, the Foundation for Biomedical Research of the Valencia General Hospital, the Foundation for Biomedical Research at Castellón Provincial Hospital, and Isabial. [Source: Valencia Government]