Crisis in Social Security: Strike Continues with 97,000 Pensioners Awaiting Attention
Hunger for reforms amplifies as Social Security officials stage strikes over staffing shortages and pending pension cases.
In a growing crisis within Spain's social security system, 97,000 pensioners are currently awaiting attention amid ongoing strikes by provincial directors.
The strikes, taking place three days a week, are a response to staffing shortages and the urgent need for restructuring within the public entity responsible for social security.
According to the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), there are more than 42,000 pending pension review cases predominantly related to increased health issues and retirement requests.
Additionally, the INSS is managing about 37,000 unresolved claims for pensions and over 18,000 requests for information regarding future pensions.
These figures underscore the mounting pressures facing both pensioners and the workforce tasked with managing their needs.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the claims of workers that the Ministry of Social Security, led by Elma Saiz, has not adequately addressed the severe conditions experienced by an overburdened, aging workforce.
In a recent statement, provincial sub-directors and secretaries contacted the minister regarding their grievances but reported no response.
The silence has also extended to Borja Suárez, the Secretary of State for Social Security, who has met with these stakeholders only once in nearly two years.
Employees face an overwhelming workload without sufficient human resources, and newly hired interim staff reportedly lack the necessary training.
Compounding these issues, the workforce is expected to administer new benefits such as the Minimum Vital Income amid ongoing changes to pension policies, including new maternity considerations for men, adjustments to retirement models, and managing public information requests regarding future pensions.
The scale of unaddressed claims highlights the deepening crisis within the social security system.
Current statistics reveal over 82,000 cases of permanent disability pending resolution, representing a 50% increase since 2023. Furthermore, there are 133,000 workers on sick leave for over a year, an 80% rise compared to the previous year.
Similarly, the duration of medical leave has seen substantial growth, with 7,500 workers remaining on leave for over two years, reflecting an 80% increase, alongside an additional 45,000 cases exceeding the maximum legal duration of 45 days which has surged by 30% within just one year.
The Minimum Vital Income program is also under pressure, with over 100,000 families currently in need awaiting INSS responses.
Complaints from citizens regarding the inefficiencies of the agency have reportedly increased six-fold over two years, reaching 17,000.
The ongoing strikes have worsened the present situation, while the Ministry of Social Security has remained largely silent.
The strike has gained significant traction, with approximately 88% participation across provinces and an overall involvement of 65% of personnel.
Officials maintain that they are open to negotiations, though the government has not shown inclination to engage.
In the solitary meeting with the Secretary of State for Social Security, staff were largely redirected to address their concerns through the Ministry of Finance.
As strikes continue, the unraveling of the social security entity seems to proceed unabated.
The strikes, taking place three days a week, are a response to staffing shortages and the urgent need for restructuring within the public entity responsible for social security.
According to the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), there are more than 42,000 pending pension review cases predominantly related to increased health issues and retirement requests.
Additionally, the INSS is managing about 37,000 unresolved claims for pensions and over 18,000 requests for information regarding future pensions.
These figures underscore the mounting pressures facing both pensioners and the workforce tasked with managing their needs.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the claims of workers that the Ministry of Social Security, led by Elma Saiz, has not adequately addressed the severe conditions experienced by an overburdened, aging workforce.
In a recent statement, provincial sub-directors and secretaries contacted the minister regarding their grievances but reported no response.
The silence has also extended to Borja Suárez, the Secretary of State for Social Security, who has met with these stakeholders only once in nearly two years.
Employees face an overwhelming workload without sufficient human resources, and newly hired interim staff reportedly lack the necessary training.
Compounding these issues, the workforce is expected to administer new benefits such as the Minimum Vital Income amid ongoing changes to pension policies, including new maternity considerations for men, adjustments to retirement models, and managing public information requests regarding future pensions.
The scale of unaddressed claims highlights the deepening crisis within the social security system.
Current statistics reveal over 82,000 cases of permanent disability pending resolution, representing a 50% increase since 2023. Furthermore, there are 133,000 workers on sick leave for over a year, an 80% rise compared to the previous year.
Similarly, the duration of medical leave has seen substantial growth, with 7,500 workers remaining on leave for over two years, reflecting an 80% increase, alongside an additional 45,000 cases exceeding the maximum legal duration of 45 days which has surged by 30% within just one year.
The Minimum Vital Income program is also under pressure, with over 100,000 families currently in need awaiting INSS responses.
Complaints from citizens regarding the inefficiencies of the agency have reportedly increased six-fold over two years, reaching 17,000.
The ongoing strikes have worsened the present situation, while the Ministry of Social Security has remained largely silent.
The strike has gained significant traction, with approximately 88% participation across provinces and an overall involvement of 65% of personnel.
Officials maintain that they are open to negotiations, though the government has not shown inclination to engage.
In the solitary meeting with the Secretary of State for Social Security, staff were largely redirected to address their concerns through the Ministry of Finance.
As strikes continue, the unraveling of the social security entity seems to proceed unabated.
Translation:
Translated by AI
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
