Labour inspectors visited the Arona City Council on Monday, located in the south of Tenerife, to ascertain whether any irregularities exist within the Social Services Area. Following a recent visit to gather information about workshops and training employment, this time they focused on the offices of this department to examine, among other issues, the functionality of the panic button for staff in certain centres, such as the Cultural Space of the San Lorenzo Valley.
According to this newspaper’s findings, this legally mandated service is non-functional in the social worker’s office, posing a significant risk during some interviews or meetings with residents and those applying for assistance or other services.
The inspectors conducted interviews with various officials, including the Secretary of the Patronage of Social Services, the head of Security, Human Resources personnel from this Department, and the individual who oversees the social work units, requesting relevant documentation and data for their investigation.
Labour inspectors also inquired about the operations of the video surveillance cameras at that centre in the Valley region, which is the most agricultural area within the municipality. According to documentation from Canary Islands now, inspectors expressed that the self-protection plan contributes little to the issues under investigation at the San Lorenzo Valley centre. Furthermore, they are examining whether absences have been adequately covered, particularly throughout 2024, and if the process for creating a reserve list of potential employees adheres to legal requirements, mainly due to the volume of requests made by the area coordinator.
Another point of inquiry pertains to the position of social workers and the additional payments for employees within this sector, given that the Civea (Commission of Interpretation, Surveillance, Study and Application of the Convention) for 2024 has not been signed by the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
In response to the investigation, the local government (PP, CC, and VOX) stated this Friday that, at least concerning substitutions in 2024, some positions could be filled that year, while others may not due to a lack of lists, an issue that is currently being addressed following the stabilisation process, as they now possess their own lists. However, they noted that these procedures are lengthy. The press team is awaiting responses or insights from the departments involved regarding the rest of the inspection.
