The figure for the number of people with these contracts registered with social security suggests that there has been an improvement in the quality of employment, one of the Balearic government's fixations. However, the main unions believe that there is plenty of scope for this quality to improve further.
While the CCOO and UGT unions view the increase in fijo discontinuo contracts positively, they consistently react to the publication of employment statistics by advocating the need for stronger commitment to more stable employment.
The Confederation of Balearic Business Associations is likewise pleased at the increase, but it says that the current phase of employment "maturity" is the time to be introducing more structure into the labour market.
The employment minister, Iago Negueruela, points to the fact that fijo discontinuo employment was this summer the highest - in percentage terms - in the country. Nevertheless, he considers this percentage, around 17% of the active labour force, to still be too low.
A further positive aspect of fijo discontinuo is that there are more employees with this type of contract actively working in the low season. The figures for January and February this year were both up, albeit by small amounts. In April, the number went up to 73,407, and this 3,668 more than in April 2018. It might be noted, however, that there was a fall in March of more than 3,000. Easter having been in April will have been a key factor in explaining this.
Going back a few years, in August 2014 the number was 66,096, so the summer peak for fijo discontinuo employment has risen by over 40% in six years.
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Tom, I agree. Only today, the papers are saying that according to the tax man, there are nearly one million more unemployed people than the government is admitting to. Also Negueruela doesn’t say how long these temporary long term contracts are for. They could be for only 3 or 4 months, which is no good for anybody, and isn’t sufficient for the employee to claim benefits or the dole. I am amazed that there aren’t demonstrations on the streets, especially after the Spanish socialist party ( the “workers” party ) has just been accused of stealing 680 MILLION euros which was destined to pay the unemployed.
Like all politicians they are making it sound like good news, which it isn’t. It really means that less employees have full time contracts and more are working for shorter periods of time with the supposed knowledge that they will be called upon the next year to do exactly the same job. Which means anybody without a contact looking for a new job is generally stuffed. And anyone with one daren’t leave for the same reason. That is why unemployment in Spain is at ridiculous, and dangerous, high levels, and has been for a long, long, time.