The Ministry of Labour in Spain has made a new rule that says that the 350,000 homes in the country that hire a housekeeper must have a risk assessment and preventive plan ready for inspection and signed by the worker. As of Friday, November 14, they could be penalised up to approximately 50,000 euros if they don’t show such a protocol.
This is a new rule that comes from a royal decree that was passed little over a year ago. It sets rules for health and safety in domestic services. It wants to make things better for a group of people, largely women, who work in dangerous settings.
The national institute for safety and health at work started a platform in May of this year to let firms do this assessment more easily. The Ministry of Labour offered them six months, and the grace period ends on November 14. In addition to filling out the form, the households have had to take the appropriate steps to lower or eliminate risks.
The free website www.prevencion10.es is available, but too many individuals have tried to access it. A member of the home must first input their own information and that of the housekeeper to finish the process. Next, they fill out a questionnaire that asks about the home’s features (such if it has stairs, pets, or a certain sort of electrical installation) and the worker’s duties (including cleaning, ironing, cooking, or caring for children, elderly people, or individuals who are sick). The program will advise ways to make things better and viable remedies if it sees any kind of risk. Households will have to follow these suggestions.
In the last ten years, many female domestic workers have left because of higher contributions and minimal pay.
After this evaluation, you can receive a document called “Plan de prevención de riesgos laborales.” Both the employer and the employee must sign it. The labour inspectorate needs to be able to get the paperwork if they need it. The portal also has tools and information on how to avoid work risks. Also, if families have any questions or problems, they can call a free helpline at 913 63 43 00 from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
If you don’t follow this new rule by Friday, you could face fines of between 2,451 and 9,830 euros. If there are aggravating factors, the fine might go up to between 24,000 and 49,000 euros.
Other things that the law plans to do
Unions say that there are still crucial parts of this law that need to be worked out. For example, female workers should be able to have a free medical check-up at least once every three years, and the protocol for dealing with violence and harassment needs to be put into place.
The Ministry of Labour maintains that this measure doesn’t put any further costs on businesses, but it’s clear that it’s another thing that families—often pensioners—have to do.
Also, the legislation could make it even harder for housekeepers to get work. The number of registered domestic workers has dropped by more than 20% since 2015, and now there are fewer than 350,000. The cost of hiring a domestic worker has gone up since taxes have gone up and the minimum wage has gone raised by 60% in just six years.
Author: Derek Appleton
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