Canary Islands move to make adjustable beds mandatory in Tourist Accommodation
The Canary Islands are moving closer to requiring adjustable beds in all types of tourist accommodation, following a broad political agreement aimed at improving working conditions in the sector.
All parliamentary groups in the Canary Islands Parliament, with the exception of Vox, have reached a deal to introduce mandatory adjustable beds and other ergonomic measures as part of an update to the region’s Tourism Regulation Law.
The introduction aims to reduce the physical strain on cleaning staff whose work is often physically demanding. By introducing adjustable beds and motorised trolleys, authorities hope to lower injury rates, reduce days on sick leave due to these injuries, improve productivity, and ultimately make general day-to-day working conditions better across the industry.
The measures would apply not only to hotels, but also to apartment complexes, other tourist accommodation, and certain holiday rental properties (which haven’t been specified yet), marking a wide-reaching change across the sector.
Some opposers to the new legislation are angry as they claim that these beds are very expensive and their introduction will be commercially unviable for a lot of private rental property owners.
The Tourism and Employment Minister, Jessica de León, highlighted the unusually strong political consensus behind the proposal, describing it as a significant agreement reached despite differing viewpoints among parties. She stressed the importance of the reform for a key industry in the islands.
The legislative amendment is expected to be approved in Parliament this Wednesday, paving the way for these measures to become compulsory across the Canary Islands’ tourism sector.
If passed, the changes would represent a major step towards modernising working conditions while maintaining the region’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading holiday destinations.
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