Catalina Cabrer: "The internalization of IB3 workers is not legally viable."

PalmShe likes to emphasize her dedication to the world of work and reacts more negatively to certain protests against tourism than to conflicts between workers and employers. The regional minister for Labor, Civil Service, and Social Dialogue, Catalina Cabrer, believes the Pact for Sustainability will be successful, although it hasn't yet generated any measures.

She's been a regional minister for a month. She started at a time of high labor unrest. How would she approach it?

— We're living in a time of conflict. Strike calls and tensions are constant, but they're part of labor relations. Some disputes, such as those with daycare centers and the TIB, stem from contracts signed with the previous government, which tied the hands of the government. Price updates for materials were planned, but no provisions had been made for labor costs.

How do you rate the figure of Councillor Sáenz de San Pedro?

— He trusted me a lot and gave me freedom, and I guess I'm grateful for that.

Reducing job insecurity is one of its challenges. It's a goal every term, although temporary and part-time contracts are common in the island's labor market. What specific measures do you think need to be implemented?

— We must stop talking about precariousness in the labor market. We've had full employment for many months. The challenge isn't fighting unemployment, but ensuring quality employment. We have permanent employment rates of around 70%, higher than in Spain as a whole. The rate of part-time and temporary employment is practically half that of the rest of Spain. We want to focus on ensuring employment is secure and with good conditions.

How do you address accidents?

— We launched inspection visits to the companies with the highest accident rates. We reviewed the risk prevention plan and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and requested amendments if anything was missing. We've tried to ensure that, when the busiest season arrives, things are well prepared. I want to believe this has results, because we're experiencing a steady decline. When June arrives, we also add the issue of high temperatures. We have a good relationship with the Provincial Directorate, and annual planning begins in October.

Why do you prioritize absenteeism if the Balearic Islands have the lowest rate?

— Absenteeism is primarily a problem of workers' health. It's true that absenteeism figures are doing very well in the Balearic Islands, but they're increasing steadily. They've risen in all sectors. There's a peculiarity in the islands: we have between 180,000 and 185,000 workers in a sector where work is concentrated in about eight months. If you apply the data to this period, there's a 14.8% [absenteeism] in the hospitality industry. We shouldn't demonize anyone, because it's a shame if a sick person can't be on sick leave. We've analyzed where the administrations are failing. There must be coordination between the National Social Security Institute (INSS), the IB Salut, and the mutual insurance companies, because there's a lot of bureaucracy. A month ago, an agreement was signed between the INSS, the Ministry of Health, and the mutual insurance companies so that, in the event of a common contingency—not arising from any work-related issue—you can go to the mutual insurance companies to undergo medical tests. This will reduce processes.

Employers have insisted on addressing absenteeism.

— It should be put on the table without absurd debates. It's true that this is a concern for companies, just as workers have many others.

How will you deploy the Conciliation Law so that it doesn't become a dirty trick?

— It's been said that this law has no budget, but the equality law enacted by the previous government didn't either. The budget will come from all the ministries involved. We've created a general directorate, conducted a diagnosis, and will draft a work-life balance plan. The issue has been addressed in the hospitality industry agreement, and we've signed tripartite agreements through which the government commits to creating an absenteeism and work-life balance observatory. But we can't interfere. Each sector knows what it can and can't offer. Introducing work-life balance in the hospitality industry, the key industry in the Balearic Islands, is proof that the law isn't just a piece of paper.

Negotiations over the TIB strike have been tough, and the hospitality agreement hasn't been easy to reach. Was more mediation on the part of the government necessary?

— The government has mediated from the very beginning. We make the first call within a minute of receiving the strike call or learning that negotiations are underway. Because of my professional nature, I believe I shouldn't create a media circus out of a sensitive issue, where there is a lot of responsibility. The government has done what it had to do: mediate, build bridges, and be attentive. I believe in confidentiality and the trust of being able to say things and knowing that the other party won't tell. Otherwise, a negotiation could be ruined.

When and how will the internalization of IB3 workers end?

— The commitment began in the previous term, and it's necessary to link everything to legal possibilities. We've run into a problem. I ask myself: what do I do if it can't be done, if it's not legally feasible?

As it stands, is internalization not legally viable?

— As it stands, it's not legally viable. There are reports in the Civil Service that say it's not as easy as it was advertised. Documents are now being reviewed and a solution is being sought. We're not going to maintain the conflict, but we can't keep promises that were made somewhat hastily.

Will we see strong measures stemming from the Sustainability Pact before the end of the legislative term?

— We're starting the second phase in September, and we'll be looking at short-, medium-, and long-term measures. I'm confident that important measures will be on the table before next season.

If the extreme right supports.

— There are government measures that don't need to go through Parliament and can be implemented. Others will have to go through Parliament, and we intend to count on [Vox's] support.

Why has the committee of experts been set aside and the Social Dialogue Roundtable will evaluate the Pact's proposals?

— The Social Dialogue Roundtable does not replace experts, who will be there if needed. If a topic is being discussed that doesn't require expert input, they will not be called upon.

But it was announced that there would be a committee of experts.

— If necessary.

Will you do anything to try to bring back the civil society organizations that left the Pact?

— It's an open process. Those who wanted to leave have done so. When the proposals of some who have left, and there aren't many, are discussed, they will be called.

He has said that he is afraid of the anti-tourism movement.

— I don't like the anti-tourism movement. I don't like graffiti and all that stuff. Anything that involves protesting properly is fine by me.

You have spoken out against reducing working hours. Why?

— I didn't speak out against reducing working hours, but rather against breaking down social dialogue in this regard. When the Spanish government agrees with the unions on a reduction in working hours that has excluded one of the parties from social dialogue, I don't see this as a good measure.

They demand orderly migration, but the system makes it difficult for people who come.

— The Balearic Islands need regulated immigration. We need labor. There's a very serious problem with the Immigration Office, because the processes are endless and somewhat absurd.

Would you be in favor of massive regularization by the State?

— With data and analyzing whether the labor market can absorb these people, whether they can live a decent life, and whether they can contribute to the system.