Health Minister Mónica García chose not to appear at the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting at which, after months of demonstrations that have brought together doctors and health workers from across the political spectrum, her new Framework Statute for staff in this key sector for any state was unveiled.
It was the government spokesperson, the socialist Elma Saíz, who defended this openly unpopular measure, saying it was backed by the 'main trade unions', namely SATSE-FSES, CC.OO., UGT and CSIF, as opposed to the groups that joined forces to protest against the text approved today, which still has to go through Congress.
Health professionals are calling for a series of measures they do not see reflected in García's reform. García is an anaesthetist and part of the government's minority wing for Sumar, under the Más Madrid quota. Among their demands are that the overtime part of their working hours – on-call shifts – should count towards Social Security contributions and that they should receive an allowance for night work or rest days after several consecutive shifts, as is the case in agreements covering the National Police or prison staff.
They are also calling for the creation of a specific A1 professional category for doctors, a maximum 35-hour working week (morning shifts on working days) and for any overtime to be voluntary and paid. They likewise want the introduction of a voluntary early retirement scheme, full or partial, and a ban on compulsory mobility.
