The Government of the Canary Islands has announced that it will, for the first time, analyse the ergonomic and psychosocial working conditions of staff in the region’s non-hotel accommodation sector, starting with holiday apartment complexes, followed by holiday let VV properties.
The fieldwork will be coordinated by the Canary Institute for Occupational Safety (ICASEL), under the regional Ministry of Tourism and Employment, and the findings will contribute to the development of the upcoming Canary Islands Tourism Management Law.
“The Canary Islands will be a pioneer in ensuring decent working conditions throughout its entire tourism ecosystem,” said the Minister of Tourism, Jessica de León. She added that a second phase of the study will include other types of non-hotel accommodation, such as holiday villas, rural homes, and heritage properties.
De León noted that the non-hotel sector accounts for 54% of the islands’ total tourist accommodation offering, making it "essential to shed light on health and safety conditions in this category and to identify ways to prevent occupational risks." Suggested improvements include the introduction of height-adjustable beds and motorised cleaning trolleys.
This new assessment follows a previous government-led study involving 121 hotels, which revealed significant shortcomings in workplace risk evaluation. That study found:
The announcement comes amid criticism from the opposition PSOE party, which denounced the government's refusal to mandate the installation of adjustable beds in hotels, calling it a "slap in the face" to cleaning staff who have long campaigned for improved working conditions.
