Local News Round Up - 01.08.2008

Look at what else made the news this week

Employers warn of attempts to open new superstores

Several multinational companies have requested licenses to settle in Guaza (Arona) and Las Chafiras (San Miguel), while other large companies, through promoters, have gained ground in the area of Las Torres (Adeje).

Thrade associations and traders in the municipalities of Adeje and Arona, whose presidents, Domingo Gonzalez and Jordi Esplugas, respectively, claim that "there are still attempts by multinationals to settle in the South ", thus expressing that" we must not lower our guard at any time."

In this regard, highlighting that "recently there was an attempt to install in Adeje a large company, in the tourist area of Costa Adeje, one of these companies. Nor can we forget that only a few months ago there was a request to constuct a large business park in Guaza (Arona), or that there are currently requests in the area of Las Chafiras (San Miguel de Abona). "

They add that, "all we know is that an important promoter related to a multinational tgat has purchased a large amount of land within Las Torres (Adeje) with the intent to build several supermarkets, which we strongly oppose" .

Gonzalez and Esplugas claim, therefore, the mayors of the region "are quite restrictive" when approving planning that could allow the installation of these large companies.

In addition, representatives from both business groups need to consider critically the stance against the amendment of the Trade Act could leave the door open to new superstores, would result in a bankruptcy for smaller shops because of the important trade structure and tourism.

Thus, Gonzalez and Esplugas state that "what needs to be enhanced, actually," and infrastructure activities are directed at leisure.

"Today, to be a big tourist destination is imperative to have a wide and varied offer complementary, with rides and avenues packed with shops, cafes and restaurants,"  both presidents, who believe that these services "are an ideal complement in areas where thousands of tourists every year spend their holidays. "

Therefore, as they have been doing in recent years with any request for superstore facilities in the South Island, they announced that they will continue doing everything "that is in our power to avoid at all costs new openings of these establishments. "

 

Employment Strategy

The crisis requires the Executive canary to accelerate part of its Employment Strategy

The General Council on Employment will discuss in the next 25 days what steps the Ministry must put in place to counteract the increase of unemployment in the islands. The manager of the autonomous area, Jorge Rodriguez, explained that the initiatives will clash with consensual unions and employers.

The Government will consider what steps of the Employment Strategy 2008-2013 should be promoted immediately as initiatives clash with the escalation of unemployment in the archipelago. Responsible for Employment, Industry and Commerce, Jorge Rodriguez, said last week there will be a "deliberative" General Council on Employment in which "we will pave the way for consensus on how to tackle the economic crisis in the Islands.

Rodriguez indicated that the meeting has been convened to promote dialogue between government, employers and unions, but this will not detract from any formal agreement, whose adoption will take place in other areas. "It will be a meeting only for discussions," explained during a recess of the General Council on Employment which was held last week in Las Palmas.

In response to a request from the unions, the General Council adopted some reforms in the field through training which is more flexible access to courses for unemployed persons initially.

In addition, reserve a share of 20% of places for unemployed people who come from the sectors most affected by the crisis. Apart from the main victim, construction, it will also become a special interest in facilitating the redeployment of workers in the subsector tomato growing, which is experiencing serious financial difficulties and is expected to receive a major downturn in activity in the short term.

The relocation of the unemployed can play a vital role in the tourism sector, according to the words of Rodriguez. "If tourism continues to respond well, it is foreseeable that over the next year it will begin to regain employment," he said, although he was cautious because the economic crisis is global and affects the major tourist source markets of the archipelago.

Regarding unemployment data to be recorded in the Canary Islands, the councillor said he regretted being "accurate" in his prediction that the islands will reach 200,000 unemployed at the end of the year-currently over 166,000-counted. However, he stressed that the last Labour Force Survey (LFS) indicated that jobs in the Archipelago "do not grow faster than the average for the whole country."

Anyway, beyond a premature assessment of the effectiveness of the measures that will boost the Government to curb this trend, said that the only thing the administration can do is to work "shoulder to shoulder" with economic and social actors "because I prefer to be wrong in predicting ", he said.

Moreover, he recalled that the Employment Service Canario (SCE) has implemented the 57.1% of its 2008 budget, worth 298 million euros, which implies having committed 166.8 million euros until July 29. For example, the Employment Service Canario (SCE) has allocated 41.6 million to training courses, 16 million to local corporations to hire 2,600 unemployed, or 13 million school workshop that resulted in an additional 1,500 contracts.

In another context, the association of large temporary employment agencies reported yesterday that the rate of temporary employment has fallen on the islands by 3.6% in the second quarter-the national drop is 2.4% - until getting 33.7% of total contracts.