Comisiones Obreras Canarias has responded this Monday afternoon to the initiative of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), which has considered eliminating salary supplements during sick leave. This union has highlighted that "the data from the years 2019 and 2024 show that the incidence increases by about twelve people per thousand protected; while the prevalence (the number of people who have taken sick leave in the period considered, whether or not they remain in a situation of temporary disability) increases by 32 people per thousand".
Therefore, it is denoted that "it is not a question of increasing sick leaves but sick leaves waiting to be resolved (surgeries, diagnoses, treatments, etc.). This reflects the imperative need to improve health infrastructures and health personnel in the islands, in order to accelerate the recovery of workers. For we must not forget that the main people affected are those who suffer the sick leaves, not their companies."
CCOO has indicated that "it is not surprising, then, that this worse state of health or lower per capita provision of health resources affects the health of workers and we present ratios of sick leave due to temporary disability higher than the national average, not so much in terms of incidence but when observing the levels of prevalence that are recorded".
In "multiple occasions", this union has stated "that the figures for absenteeism due to temporary disability respond in the islands to a cumulative issue and not so much to the fact that year after year the number of people who take medical leave due to temporary disability is higher". Thus, "that despite being one of the regions with the greatest extension of the working day, late working days and split shifts; situations that cause greater psychosocial risks".
In other words, Comisiones Obreras states that "the workers of the Canary Islands work enduring the downpour of hours, bad shifts and low wages and, to top it off, when they get sick, the lack of health resources in occupational health causes their sick leaves to be extended". That is, it has highlighted that "nothing is being done to improve their working conditions and prevent these sick leaves, nor to resolve them when they occur. And yet it is intended to blame the workers".
From CCOO we demand that "prevention and awareness campaigns be increased to improve habits; as well as fiscal measures that dissuade the consumption of products harmful to health". In addition, improve the evaluations of jobs and the functions of workers in terms of prevention of occupational risks, also work-life balance and the work environment to prevent "those sick leaves caused by psychosocial risks". And last but not least, "improve and increase the inspection function in matters of safety and health at work, which apply the corresponding sanctions".
For the union, "it is simple: let's protect workers so that their health does not suffer, and if it does, let's favor a prompt recovery. That sometimes it seems that we forget that we are talking about people's health. And that a sick leave means a person at risk of health, not a "handicap" for the company's economy".
