Labour rights queries increase during the Covid-19 crisis
The labour rights points operated by Barcelona Activa have attended to more than 1,300 individuals during the health crisis, a fivefold increase on the same period last year and more than in the whole of 2019 (1,007). Most cases handled by this free legal advice and labour rights service were to do with social security benefits, income support in connection with temporary lay-offs, sackings and the cancelling of contracts.
The service has become a telephone advice service, with the team of lawyers and experts resolving the main doubts during the health crisis, providing information on resources and aid available and referring queries to bodies able to provide additional support.
With the collaboration of trade unions, the labour advice unit also looks at the cases presented to assess whether rights have been violated and to provide the information needed to defend them.
Number of cases handled, by district and profile
The territorial distribution of requests for advice was as follows:
- Nou Barris and Eixample (15%) are the districts with the most queries
- Sant Martí (14%)
- Sants-Montjuïc (12%)
- Horta-Guinardó and Ciutat Vella (10%)
The majority profiles of people with queries was:
- 64% women and 36% men.
- Most queries came from people aged between 30 and 45 (51%) and between 45 and 55 (23%).
- Currently employed (46%) or unemployed (41%).
- With secondary school studies (47%), university studies (40%) or primary school studies (13%).
The service offered by labour rights defence points is free of charge and available with an appointment (tel. 900 533 175) from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. As from Thursday, 18 June, face-to-face service will gradually resume at the points. For more information, go to the Barcelona Activa website.
