“Each generation has its own battle for labor dignity and this is ours. In the reality we have to live and in the face of xenophobic and classist discourses, decent work cannot be a matter of discussion but of consolidation, and today there are those who intend to call it into question again”
There are moments when a country portrays itself by how it treats those who work. May 1st is one of them.
This internationally recognized date honors all working people, women and men, who sustain our social fabric and also reminds us that labor rights are the foundation of any just society.
As mayor of San Bartolomé, in Lanzarote, I am clear about this: each generation has its own battle for labor dignity, and this is ours. In the reality we have to live and in the face of xenophobic and classist discourses, decent work cannot be a matter of discussion but of consolidation, and today there are those who intend to cast doubt on it again.
That is why this May 1st is not just a commemoration; it is a call to democratic responsibility and to the active defense of the rights that allow us to advance as a municipality and as a country. May 1st exists because, in 1886, in Chicago, thousands of people were repressed for demanding something as basic as an eight-hour workday and fair conditions, whose mobilizations paved the way for rights that we consider fundamental today: the limited workday, rest, collective bargaining, or social protection, among others.
Defending dignified work, equal opportunities, and social cohesion is, therefore, a democratic responsibility that admits no ambiguities, and that is what we do from progressive governments that firmly believe that progress is only achieved when we leave no one behind, defending fair working conditions and promoting access to employment.
In San Bartolomé, the last year shows that when one plans with rigor and acts with vision, the results arrive.
According to data from ISTAC prepared from the Canary Employment Service, unemployment has fallen by 11.7% in the last twelve months. So far in 2026, unemployment has been reduced by 2.8%, chaining together a full quarter of decline. These are figures that reflect a positive and sustained trend for the municipality's workers.
Every decrease in unemployment means that more women and men find a real job opportunity. And it is not the result of chance because it responds to a clear strategy to promote diversified, stable economic development with social impact.
An example of this is the joint sale of five industrial plots in the Playa Honda Industrial Zone, put out to tender on March 16 for a value exceeding 2.2 million euros. It is not just another real estate transaction: it is a commitment to attract a transformative project capable of generating 150 direct jobs, of which at least 75% will be for people with disabilities. In other words, inclusive, stable employment with a direct impact on the social cohesion of the municipality.
This initiative guarantees that public land is used exclusively for value-added industrial activity, reinforcing economic diversification and avoiding speculative uses.
“Defending decent work, equal opportunities, and social cohesion is a democratic responsibility that admits no ambiguity; that is what progressive governments do, who firmly believe that progress is only achieved when we leave no one behind”
The defense of labor rights and the generation of quality employment for all people are fundamental pillars of the welfare state, and no business lobby, nor political parties rooted in the staunch defense of voracious capitalism, will be able to overcome those of us who defend coexistence and social protection for people.
A way to understand equity, respect, and equal opportunities that precisely these days has materialized with the new regularization of migrant people in Spain thanks to a progressive and socialist government, which will allow many people who are already part of our daily lives to access employment, training, and stability.
This May 1st, I claim dignified work, equal opportunities, and the defense of rights and values that leave no one behind. For my part, and from the municipal competencies that I represent as mayor, I will continue working tirelessly so that San Bartolomé continues to be a municipality of opportunities, progress, and social justice.