Parliament Mandates Adjustable Beds and Motorized Carts in Hotels

Mario Cabrera: “A demand we defended from the opposition in the previous legislature, and now that we support the Government we have managed to push it forward.”

The plenary session of the Parliament gave the green light to amend Law 7/1995 of April 6, the Canary Islands Tourism Regulation. The amendment answers a long‑standing demand of housekeeping staff and “kellys,” making the installation of elevating beds and motorized carts compulsory in hotel establishments, and also eliminating Nordic duvets among other improvements.

Parliamentary Debate

During the final debate, Mario Cabrera González, deputy of the Canarian Nationalist Group (CCa), highlighted the “collective success” of the new regulation. He opened his speech by thanking the housekeeping workers and “kellys” present in the chamber for “sharing their struggles and demands, which finally receive a parliamentary response.”

Cabrera also acknowledged those who could not attend the session but whose demands have accompanied the legislators throughout meetings and plenary sessions. He recognized the contributions of fellow party members who worked alongside the housekeeping staff, such as Nereida Calero, Jana González, and Cristina Valido.

“A demand we defended from the opposition in the previous legislature, and now that we support the Government we have managed to push it forward,” he reiterated.

The deputy emphasized the consensus reached to adopt a law aimed at improving the working conditions of a sector crucial to the Canary Islands’ economy and addressing its main demands.

Key Measures

• Ergonomic and psychosocial assessments: Introduction of studies to evaluate workload and determine appropriate work‑load limits.
• Respect for the hospitality collective agreement: Particularly regarding rest days and salary scales.
• Recognition of occupational diseases: Formal acknowledgment of conditions such as bursitis and epicondylitis, beyond carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Strengthened labor inspections: Enhanced monitoring to ensure compliance with the new standards.
• Early retirement option: Provision for housekeeping staff to retire at 55 years, reflecting the high physical impact of the job.

Cabrera stressed that these steps should be part of a broader effort to improve the sector, noting that the current tourism boom—characterized by record occupancy rates—offers an opportunity to deepen destination quality and achieve a fairer distribution of benefits.

“Quality starts with better working conditions for those who sustain the tourism sector in the Canary Islands,” he asserted, adding that laws must be adapted to the reality of each island “if we want to build a Canary Islands of equal islands.”

Looking Ahead

Cabrera concluded that the unity displayed to pass this amendment should be “just the beginning of a change that must go further.” He called for continued progress on salary improvements, a more equitable share of wealth from businesses—through wages, taxes, and housing access—and the protection and enhancement of labor rights, ensuring workers have the material means needed for their daily tasks.