On Tuesday, the Congress of Deputies approved the royal decree that establishes an extra funding of 6.2 billion euros this year and in 2027 for the dependency system managed by the autonomous communities. But what does this increase in funding mean for dependents, their families, and workers?
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The Ministry of Social Rights is putting numbers to this decision, which offers a future contribution of 50% from the Government to the system. For example, the department led by Pablo Bustinduy estimates that the waiting list could be reduced by 71,000 people in 2027 and, furthermore, it will allow more users to be served: more than 417,000 new beneficiaries.
And what will it mean for professionals in the sector? Well, dependency will become a clear niche for job creation, both due to the increase in beneficiaries described and the increase in services (for example, assistants to accompany the dependent person to do shopping or to the doctor).
According to the forecasts of Bustinduy’s team, the expanded economic contribution from the Government will result in the creation of between 107,735 and 115,050 jobs within the dependency sector throughout Spain.
The new contribution must improve the conditions of caregivers: they earn 16,500 euros per year
The community that can create the most jobs is Andalusia, about 23,500, followed by Madrid, about 22,300, according to Social Rights.
And Catalonia? The data shows that it will receive 567 million euros more from the Government to finance the minimum level of dependency (189.1 million euros additional in 2026 and 378.3 million euros additional in 2027). The system could incorporate 61,470 new beneficiaries, reduce the waiting list by 24,881 people, and create 13,611 jobs in that time.
But just as important as increasing the number of workers is improving their working conditions, their salaries, more training, and more stability.
At the same time, and although Social Rights does not have the authority to negotiate collective agreements for workers in the sector, it has promoted a dialogue table with unions and employers so that both have all the information about this new funding and “try to enable social agents to carry out an immediate improvement of their conditions,” say sources from Bustinduy’s ministry.
What are the working conditions of the 600,000 people employed in sectors related to long-term care in residences and home services, as well as day centers? According to a study by Social Rights, women (83%) have temporary contracts (one in four of those working in residences; 40% in home help) and have salaries aligned with the Minimum Interprofessional Wage, around 16,500 euros per year.
The working conditions of the sector have direct consequences on the health of dependency workers
These are some of the data from the study prepared by the State Secretariat of Social Rights, which reveals the poor working conditions of a sector “invisible and disregarded by society despite its importance,” they point out from this department. These conditions cause people working in the sector to stay, on average, barely one year, which makes talent retention difficult.
The working conditions of the sector have direct consequences on the health of the workers. The tasks they face affect their physical and emotional health with chronic muscular ailments and work accidents more frequent than average. This work points out that in 2023 accidents in residences with sick leave were 75% more than the national average while in social services without accommodation, the excess reached up to 25%.
