Tenerife rewards companies that hire vulnerable individuals. The Cabildo allocates 865,000 euros as a subsidy for the reservation of positions aimed at work inclusion for socially disadvantaged groups. Presently, this amount is assigned to a first framework agreement reserved for private insertion initiatives and special employment centres of a social nature for the maintenance and conservation of the Island’s palm groves. The second vice president, José Miguel Ruano (CC), held a meeting with the Responsible Public Contracting Observatory of Canarias (OCPR) to explain the measure, which, he notes, “is intended to extend to all island areas”. It is included in the Annual Contracting Plan for 2024.
The Observatory considers this island initiative “very positive”, which, by promoting the reservation of contracts, encourages the social inclusion of people in vulnerable situations. Its representatives and those of the interested social businesses met this week at the Cabildo with Ruano, also an island councilor for Presidency, Administration, and Public Service. Technical specialists from the Contracting and Natural Environment areas, the administrative framework for the start of the project, also attended to address and facilitate any doubts and to encourage participation in this framework agreement for the successful resolution of tenders.
Collaboration
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The councilor thanked the Observatory for its collaboration in advising on responsible public contracting by the Cabildo and expressed the institution’s intention to continue advancing in this area to increase the level of contracting. Ruano emphasized that, despite the staff being very involved, beyond what the legal reserves indicate, “the goal is to extend this practice to all areas of the Cabildo” for which he considered a change of mentality fundamental. The Responsible Public Contracting Observatory of Canarias is an initiative of the Anagos Network, financed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Infancy, and Families of the Canary Islands Government.
Offer
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During the meeting, the difficulties faced by social businesses when applying for public tenders were explained, as well as the collaboration opportunities in various areas, beyond cleaning or maintenance. The training needs in responsible public procurement both on the part of the administration and insertion businesses and special centers were also addressed. In addition to highlighting all the technical issues linked to the specific framework agreement related to the maintenance of the Island’s palm groves.
Beneficiaries
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Entities that carry out integrated projects for work insertion through individualized and personalized itineraries, as well as orientation and training activities with vulnerable individuals, will be eligible for the subsidy. Among these are long-term unemployed individuals, those who have been in this situation for 12 months within the 18 months prior to starting the project. Other sectors targeted by the initiative are people with disabilities and their family environment, the homeless, migrants, the elderly or drug dependents.
Palm Groves
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Tenerife is the third island in the archipelago in terms of number of palm trees, with about 103,000, after Lanzarote (50,000) and Gran Canaria (176,000) according to the environmental education entity Fénix Canaria. The largest palm groves are located in the North, such as that of Interián in Los Silos, and it is worth highlighting the 750 units in Taganana, in Anaga.
