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INPRIMATU
Domestic workers protest at Donostia-San Sebastian State Public Employment Service offices
  • Several people have concentrated this Thursday morning in front of the offices of the Gros State Public Employment Service, convened by the Political Action Group of Household Employees. They have been mobilized to demand that the Spanish Government pay the grant approved by the state of emergency in July.
Irati Salsamendi Lozano Irutxuloko Hitza @irutxulo 2020ko uztailaren 03a
SOS Arrazakeriako Etxeko Langileen Taldeko kideak, Malen Etxeko kideak, eta Bidez Bide elkarteko kideak batu dira Grosen, hainbat sindikatutako kideekin batera. (Argazkia: SOS Arrazakeria)

The Political Action Group, made up of associations and organizations of household employees of the Spanish State, has also protested in other cities of the State, such as Bilbao and Seville, among others. In Gros, members of the Group of Household Workers of SOS Racism Gros, members of Malen Etxea, and members of the Bidez Bide association, as well as trade unionists, have met.

Household employees have denounced that the Spanish Government has had a "one-and-a-half month" to implement the subsidy for Social Security affiliated household employees, who set a three-month margin to pay the subsidy. They have also denounced that the situation of household workers has deteriorated because of the pandemic, as many of them have been left without work and, therefore, without economic resources to maintain.

“The procedure is very laborious and not practical. Many household employees have had to ask for help in making the application, and many have not at present been able to provide the necessary documents to justify their right to apply for the grant. In addition, the State Public Employment Service is not responding to workers who ask about their process,” they criticised.

They have also stressed that the work of a large part of the household workforce is not recognized, as it is done by irregular migrant women and workers not affiliated with the Social Security. “Governments, with the complicity of autonomous governments, look elsewhere, because this work avoids social spending; in addition, those who can benefit from the subsidy are not the priority, because they are women, they do the work of women,” they said in a statement.

Household employees have reported that they are not going to normalize this situation and are not going to wait quietly. Three specific requests have been made:

  • In July, payments for all outstanding applications will be made.
  • Regularization now and benefits for non-members of Social Security.
  • All rights for home and care workers.