The plenary session of the Congress of Deputies validated this Thursday the Royal Decree-Law that obliges the Spanish government to review, within a maximum of six months, the amounts of the residence indemnity received by personnel of the General State Administration assigned to the Balearic Islands. The objective is to adapt the complement to the current cost of living in the Archipelago and facilitate the coverage of positions in public services.

The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, has lashed out at the regional government's requests for improved funding: "I am tired of hearing many regional presidents boast about giving gifts to the wealthy and then complaining about a lack of resources." He states that they have received a "permanent no" to negotiation from the Government regarding the allocation of an additional 412 million euros annually.

State officials assigned to the Balearic Islands will receive up to 700 euros more per month as a residence allowance starting this month. The Spanish government has approved the compensation agreement for insularity, proposed by the UGT, which updates amounts that have not been revised for 20 years. The increase compensates for the high cost of living and will be particularly significant in Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, while in Mallorca the amounts will be aligned with those already received by public employees assigned to the Canary Islands.The new monthly compensation ranges between 214.61 euros for staff in group A1 assigned to Mallorca and 697.67 euros for the same workers if they are based in Menorca, Ibiza, or Formentera. In the case of administrative staff in group C1, the supplement will be 144.61 euros per month in Mallorca and 405.10 euros in the rest of the Archipelago.

Until a few years ago, it was very common for Menorcan families to take the plane or boat to go to Palma or Barcelona to buy clothes. The large chains and franchises had not yet landed on the island and it was more economical to travel to buy clothes on the Peninsula or on the neighboring island than to buy them directly from small shops in Menorca.