Madrid demands 10,000 public sector job cuts in the Canaries

The state government is forcing the Canary Islands to reduce public employment by 10,000 workers. This requirement, far from being accepted, has been rejected by the Canary Islands executive, which is attempting by all means to avoid what they call ‘brutal’ cuts to public employment. Sources close to Madrid said yesterday that it is pushing the Canary Islands Government to carry out cuts of up to 10,000 jobs. Sources went on to say that “There is no official document to support this requirement, but that a request has been made” and that “the Canary Islands is resisting to accept these cuts”. Madrids demands are based on a request for assistance made ​​by the Canary Island Government to the ‘Autonomic Liquidity Fund’ (FLA) to meet its payments which amount to €756.8 million. It would appear that the job cuts are inevitable, especially considering the Canaries budgets for next year (estimated at around €600 million). Sources said that the Canary Islands government “is doing everything possible” to prevent the reduction levels being demanded by Madrid.

* Archive image, Canary Islands government in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria