Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

JOBS

Spain to fine companies that expose workers to heatstroke up to €820K

The Spanish government will send letters to thousands of companies in the country warning them that they face fines of up to €820,000 for exposing their employees to conditions that could cause heatstroke and for not offering them the necessary protection. 

Published: 27 July 2021 12:15 CEST
Spain to fine companies that expose workers to heatstroke up to €820K
Temperatures in central and southern Spain regularly reach 40C during the months of July and August. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)

Spain’s second Deputy PM and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz made the announcement on Monday, telling journalists that her government would send 137,000 letters to companies whose employees have jobs where exposure to high temperatures is common. 

Díaz used the tragic death of a fruit picker in Murcia in 2020 as an example, who “after working at 45 C for a whole day of strenuous work” passed away from heatstroke. 

Spain’s Labour Inspectorate registered “more than 100 cases of heatstroke and related work accidents in 2019,” Héctor Illueca, head of the department, said during the press conference.

Two sectors are particularly affected by work accidents due to heatstroke during the summer period: construction work and agriculture.

In the letter sent to the companies in question, Spain’s Labour Ministry will remind them that failing to meet heatstroke prevention requirements will result in “serious or very serious penalties”, ranging from €2,046 up to €819,780.

“We’re going to take their case very seriously,” Díaz stated in reference to the roughly one million workers in Spain who face dangerous heat conditions.

Labour inspections during the summer period in Spain will prioritise complaints relating to heatstroke incidents and focus on businesses that use unregistered migrants and workers without contracts.

A worker gathers grapes during the Spanish vintage in Jerez, southern Spain. Photo: José Luis Roca/AFP

Labour inspectors will look out for heatstroke risk factors such as prolonged work outdoors and big distances from drinking water sources or air-conditioned places, as well as the strenuousness of the work. 

“It’s essential companies adopt preventive measures such as providing work clothes that protect from the sun, sun creams that protect workers’ skin, water and other liquids, more frequent work breaks, to avoid the hottest hours of the day and overall organise work matters to protect workers’ health,” Illueca explained. 

Temperatures in central and southern Spain regularly reach 40C during the months of July and August, and this year has been no different. 

READ MORE: Nearly 50C – Southern Spain set to sizzle in historic heatwave

Heatstroke (also called sunstroke) occurs when the body can’t maintain a temperature under 45C when exposed to hot weather.

Symptoms include headache, dizziness and confusion, loss of appetite and feeling sick, excessive sweating and being pale, having clammy skin, cramps in the arms, legs and stomach, hyperventilating and a high heart rate, a high temperature of 38C or above and being very thirsty.

Without a fast response to lower the sufferer’s body temperature, heatstroke can cause the brain or other vital organs to swell, potentially resulting in permanent injury or death.

READ ALSO:

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

PADRON

When and how you need to renew your padrón certificate in Spain

The padrón document you get when registering at your local town hall in Spain must be renewed periodically. Find out when and the steps on how to do it.

Published: 22 April 2024 13:09 CEST
When and how you need to renew your padrón certificate in Spain

The padrón certificate is used to show proof of where you live. Your town hall – or ayuntamiento – uses it to find how many people are living in the area and what their ages are.

The number of people living in each area will depend on how much money they will receive from the government. They use this money for local services such as schools, health centres, parks and police officers.

If you are a non-EU citizen with temporary residence (less than 5 years) in Spain, then you will need to renew your padrón certificate every two years.

You will also need to renew your padrón each time you move house, as it should have your current address. 

For some bureaucratic processes in Spain, you will also need to be able to show you have a padrón certificate that’s no older than three months. 

Depending on where you live, there are different ways you can renew it. This could be in person, online or by post.

READ ALSO – Padrón: 16 things you should know about Spain’s town hall registration

Generally, in order to renew your certificate, you will need:

  • A recent gas, water or electricity bill in your name
  • Your rental contract and receipt of your last rental payment
  • If you own your own property, you will need to show evidence that you own it, such as the property deeds

You will also need to show:

  • A valid residence card such as TIE
  • A valid passport
  • In addition, it is also advisable to bring your previous padrón certificate

For children you will also need the following:

  • Records of your digitised family book (libro de família)
  • A valid passport or residence permit of the minor
  • A passport of one of the parents which also contains the identification data of the minor
  • Birth certificate of your child

If you do not live in the same household as your child, you will also need:

  • A delegation for registration form, signed by the parent who lives with the minor.
  • Photocopy of the valid identification document of the parent who lives with the child.
  • In the case of minors under 14 years of age, it will not be mandatory for them to have an NIE, passport or identification document from their country of origin.

Remember that all your documents should be officially translated into Spanish or another local language such as Catalan, if they aren’t already.

READ ALSO: Can I get my padrón online in Spain?

In person

If you are applying in person, you will need to make an appointment at your local Ayuntamiento or town hall.

When the date for your appointment arrives you will need to complete the renewal form, which will most like look something like this, but may change depending on where you live. 

You will also need to bring originals and photocopies of all the documents above.

Online

If you have a digital certificate or Cl@ve PIN you are able to renew your padrón online. You will need to do this via your local government website.

First, you’ll need to identify yourself digitally with your digital certificate or Cl@ve PIN.

Next you will have to complete the renewal form and then attach digital copies of all the above documentation that’s required.

Then you’ll need to submit and sign it digitally.

By post

Although this is not the most common way to renew your certificate, some town halls may let you apply by post and will have details of the relevant address to send your documents and forms to online. 

SHOW COMMENTS