Spain health warning issued at airports used by millions of British tourists | World | News
Urgent action is being demanded as the homelessness situation at a number of popular Spanish holiday airports, including the Costa del Sol one, reaches crisis point. At Madrid airport, it’s estimated that around 400 people are sleeping rough, with many going out to work in the day and returning each night to sleep.
And the shocking scenario is now being reflected elsewhere, both on the mainland and the holiday islands. Malaga and Palma in Majorca are also dealing with the problem which is said to be causing not only humanitarian issues but safety and health fears too. At Malaga airport, it has even been alleged that staff have been bitten by fleas and bed bugs. However, this has been denied by the authorities. Workers claimed to have seen the insects “climbing up the walls” near the departure gates used by millions of Brits.
Airport employees have spoken of being bitten and having to apply insect repellent before going to work
The appeal for urgent action is being led by the CCOO union, which has publicly denounced the unsanitary conditions and lack of safety endured by workers at Malaga airport due to the presence of homeless people.
The CCOO union section in the airport authority Aena group has warned of “the serious situation that both workers and airport users have been suffering for months, due to the continued and growing presence of homeless people staying in various areas of the airport facilities, especially in the passenger terminals and transit areas.”
The union says that in recent months they have received “multiple complaints from workers from different groups, including cleaning, security, handling, customer service, shops, and catering, alleging unsanitary conditions, persistent smells, the use of restrooms as overnight areas, accumulation of belongings, occasional aggression, and a lack of effective intervention by the competent authorities.”
And it has warned that “this poses a risk to occupational health and creates an environment of tension and insecurity that is absolutely incompatible with the normal conduct of business at an international airport.”
Whilst accepting homelessness is a deep-seated social problem, the union has demanded that this public company, as the manager of these facilities, assume its responsibility to protect the health and safety of its staff and airport users.
The CCOO (City of Workers’ Commissions) demands that “it urgently articulate, in coordination with the competent public administrations, such as the City Council, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Government Delegation, effective measures to provide an immediate response to this situation.”
Aena has responded that it is in “permanent and coordinated contact with the local and regional public authorities that have administrative powers in matters of social affairs and who are aware of the situation of the homeless people who spend the night at the airport.”
“Airports are designed and equipped exclusively for passenger traffic and, therefore, are not prepared for people to live there. Local and regional public authorities are aware of this reality and are working to improve the situation of homeless people,” they explained, adding that “Aena has implemented all necessary measures to ensure the well-being of passengers and airport workers, within its powers.”
At Malaga airport, there are around 70 people sleeping homeless each night, the vast majority in the arrivals hall.
“There have been some tense moments with security and some workers, but nothing like what’s happening in Madrid,” explains Antonio González, Secretary of Union Policy and Communications for the UGT (General Union of Workers’ Unions).
“Things get a bit complicated between 2am and 5am in the morning, when the last flights arrive. Troubled and repeat offenders are monitored by security personnel and cameras.”
Mallorca’s main airport, Son Sant Joan in the capital of Mallorca is also reporting a substantial increase in homeless people living both inside the terminal and in the car-park.
Private security officers have been brought in to try and contain them in groups away from the main arrival and departure section and some of the doors are being locked at night.
There have been reports of trouble and thefts from local shops inside the airport. Some of the homeless people have been subsequently evicted. In some cases, matters have escalated, with complaints and restraining orders issued against these homeless people, as reported by airport staff.
