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The Government, through the Department of Health, has improved the economic and working conditions of the 140,000 health professionals in less than a year through two major agreements: that of the Catalan Institute of Health (ICS) and that of the rest of the public system. Specifically, it has allocated 320 million euros to improve the conditions of ICS workers and 460 million euros to improve the conditions of workers assigned to the III Labor Agreement of the Comprehensive Public Health System of Catalonia (SISCAT).
In total, there are close to €800 million, almost all of the increase in Salut’s budget, which has allowed these two large agreements to be closed. These agreements represent a step forward in the equalization and standardization of working conditions for all workers in the Catalan health system.
The new ICS agreement, sealed on November 22, benefits some 55,000 workers from 289 primary care teams and 8 hospitals, while the SISCAT agreement, closed in December 2022, affects some 70,000 employees. “The Government’s commitment to professionals is consolidated with the signing of these two agreements,” highlights the Health Minister, Manel Balcells.
Among the measures that affect all groups is the recognition of the professional career of the rest of the system to all those who join the ICS; The price of Christmas and New Year guard duty is doubled and the professional career is extended to the entire ICS group, whether permanent or temporary.
For all non-medical groups, the working day is reduced by 43 hours, reversing the cuts. Hospital doctors will have their working hours reduced by 86 hours.
With regard to the nursing group, the fixed salary increases by €1,700 per year and the specific complement of professionals in health group A2 (such as physiotherapists or social workers) is equivalent to that of the public sector with €1,700 per year. In addition, the specialty category in nursing is recognized with a salary of 1,500 euros per year in the professional career and includes nurses who have the title and work in the field of the specialty. Medical-surgical training between 750 and 1,000 euros (critical burns, anesthesia) is also recognized in the professional career, in addition to the increase in other complements.
Likewise, for the nursing group, a supplement of up to 450 euros per year is created when they work in shifts and provide 24-hour coverage. Likewise, the time spent changing shifts is recognized and compensated. All in all, the ICS primary nursing group will see its salary increase between 7% and 26% without guards.
As for doctors, the professional career is advanced so that specialist doctors will be paid one year after the MIR. Guards are increased by 30% with a guaranteed 24-hour rest. The working hours of hospital medical staff are reduced by 86 hours per year and senior medical staff, when they stop working on call, will receive between 1,000 and 3,000 euros.
Likewise, the ICS primary care medical group will receive a salary increase of between 8 and 20%. For hospital guard staff, the specific supplement is improved between 700 and up to 1,250 euros per year.
The other major health agreement, that of the rest of the public system, benefits some 70,000 workers and has been possible thanks to an injection from the Government of 460 million euros. The historic agreement, to improve the conditions of workers assigned to the III Labor Agreement of the Comprehensive Public Health System of Catalonia (SISCAT), was signed in December 2022.
One of the main measures implemented has been the salary increase for public workers at the Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), which has been applied to the rest of SISCAT workers. It is a 2.5% increase that may reach 3.5% in 2023. The agreement also reviewed the 5% cuts from 2010, a measure that affects 18 public companies and consortia (EPiC); as well as improving management remuneration by objectives.
The business associations Unió Catalana d’Hospitals (La Unió), the Consorci Associació Patronal Sanitària i Social (CAPSS), the Catalan Association of Health Entities (ACES), 13 of the 15 trade union delegates of Commissions Obreras (CCOO), the The General Workers’ Union (UGT) and the Nursing Union (SATSE) signed the historical agreement for the next two years.
