Rodríguez Albertus Announces SEMAC Reopening in Fuerteventura and New Headquarters

The General Director of Labour for the Canary Islands Government, José Ramón Rodríguez Albertus, announced on Monday during an interview on the program La Voz de Fuerteventura on Radio Insular that the Mediation, Arbitration and Conciliation Service (SEMAC) will be operational again on the island after months of interruption due to staff shortages.

“We have run out of SEMAC officials because of the medical leaves we mentioned earlier. In the province of Las Palmas we are left with a single lawyer, and in Tenerife we have none at all. Literally.”

The lack of the service has caused discontent among workers and unions, who argue that the absence of SEMAC deprives many employees of the possibility to pursue compensation for dismissals, especially when they lack the financial means to start judicial proceedings.

In response, Albertus explained that the Ministry and the General Directorate have launched a three‑year emergency plan to resolve the bottleneck caused by the chronic staff shortage.

In Fuerteventura, the service was suspended and its reinstatement was initially slated for early summer, but activity has not yet resumed. To avoid further delays in conciliation cases, the service will resume in October at the current premises while the new office on Calle Antonio Jorge in Puerto del Rosario is being completed, with an opening planned before the end of the year.

Less Unemployment in Fuerteventura

At the same time, the island is showing a positive trend in employment figures.

“While the unemployment rate for the Canary Islands stands at 13 %, Fuerteventura’s is now around 11 %—a little lower,” Albertus highlighted.

Currently, 5,559 people are unemployed, a figure well below the more than 10,000 recorded in previous years, though Albertus warned that “more work is needed to reduce that number.”

He noted that the most affected groups are long‑term unemployed individuals and workers over 45 years old, who face greater difficulties re‑entering the labour market. For these groups, the government is promoting training programmes and a €7 million “first‑experience opportunities” scheme for newly qualified young people.

Social Agreement and Technical Table – Mandatory Conclusions

Albertus also addressed the issue of absenteeism on the island, especially in the tourism sector. Hotels report an average 18 % sick‑leave rate among staff, while the General Hospital exceeds 20 %. A shortage of affordable housing further hampers hiring in the most pressured areas.

“Many people reject a job offer because, for example, if I move to Corralejo, I would have to pay €1,000 in rent and earn €1,400 – the numbers just don’t add up,” he explained.

All these points will be examined within the upcoming Social Agreement, expected to start soon and last potentially more than a year. Its conclusions will be binding for all parties.

Albertus added that a Technical Table on Hospitality is scheduled for next Thursday, where results from ergonomic studies in hotels and non‑hotel establishments will be discussed.

“We will propose a series of measures to the technical table and make them mandatory,” he confirmed, mentioning proposals such as adjustable beds to aid housekeeping staff. The discussion will also explore financing lines, recognizing that the island’s productive fabric is largely composed of SMEs rather than large corporations.

Adequate Training for the Market

On the inspection front, Albertus reported that 22,000 inspections have already been carried out across the Canary Islands this year.

“On this island we now have eight inspectors and sub‑inspectors in total. I would have added 20 more myself,” he said.

The most frequent violations involve illegal reduction of working hours and partial‑time contracts that mask full‑time schedules.

Looking ahead, Albertus stressed that the island’s labour future depends on strengthening training linked to emerging sectors such as audiovisual production and new technologies.

“The essential thing for me remains quality training, both formal and through the Canary Islands Employment Service, and aligning that training with real labour demand,” he concluded.