Confebask calls for agreement on absenteeism based on ‘involvement, cooperation and trust’

In 2023, the Basque Country reached an index of absenteeism from work for temporary disabilities of 5.8%, above the Spanish state and the EU. Absenteeism mainly occurred among people over 55 years of age, and in 80% of cases it was the result of temporary disability due to general circumstances.

These data arise from the presentation offered by the Basque Institute for Competitiveness, Orkestra, in the context of the monographic conference (‘An overview and analysis of absenteeism due to disability in Euskadi’), organized by ConfeBask in Bilbao to tackle absenteeism in Euskadi, where representatives of the Basque government and the trade unions CCOO and UGT were also present.

In her speech, the ConfeBask president said: Tamara Yaguehas called for a joint pact against absenteeism, based on ‘involvement, cooperation and trust’. After expressing the “willingness” of employers to achieve this objective, they “demanded urgent measures to improve the health and well-being of employees” and assured that this problem is a “challenge for productivity and the competitiveness” of companies.

The Deputy Lehendakari and the Minister of Economy and Labor also participated, Michael Torreswho has called for labor rights such as reconciliation or leave to be “not lumped together” with temporary disability due to illness and has called for “joining efforts” to “reach agreements” that will protect the lives and health of improve employees.

But for the unions CCOO and UGTthe aging population and the deterioration of the public health system have a lot to say about this issue. Both Loli García (CCOO) and Raúl Arza (UGT) believe that the cause of the higher absenteeism lies in the ‘problem’ of health prevention in companies, the ‘deterioration’ and ‘collapse’ of Osakidetza and the old age of Basque workers . , with 40% being over 50 years old and 25% being over 55 years old.

Concentration

Meanwhile, the unions LAB, ESK, Steilas, EHNE, Etxalde and HIRU They have held a rally in front of The Artist hotel, where the day called by Confebask took place, to denounce that “there is no real problem of absenteeism, but rather of an employer not respecting occupational health regulations.” They have asked the Basque government not to ‘buy the employers’ discourse’.

LAB’s Minister of Occupational Health, Inko Iriarte, believes that the message launched by the employers’ organization is a “fake news” campaign. He explained that for years, companies and their mutual insurance companies have promoted various anti-absenteeism measures, “such as leaving control of regular sick leave to the mutual insurance company or hiring specialized companies to oversee regular sick leave.”