In many countries, officials are now dismissed, but Spaniards dream of a workplace in the public sector.
Barcelona Granadian Belen has decided to work a little earlier than normal. He will be home to Friday at four in the afternoon.
– Normally, at no earlier than half the seven. The whole day goes to work, says Belen, who works in the Päivälehti marketing department in Barcelona.
only uses the first name to prevent him from losing his job. Belen has decided to change the industry, but for the time being, a job is important.
– In my current job, everyone does overtime for free. Nevertheless, I can get fired at any time. I don’t want such a life.
That’s why Belen sits after a day at the kitchen table to study. Dreams are a career as a government official.
More and more Spaniards have the same dream.
Young people appreciate your free time more than money
In Spain employ about 16 % of all employees. The figure has grown in recent years, but is clearly lower than in Finland and other Nordic countries. In Finland, for example, the public sector accounts for about 25 %.
Professor of Sociology at Barcelona UAB University Vicent Borras Not surprised by Belen’s career aspirations.
In the video, Borras explains why more and more young people have a dream job at the state:
In the past, the private sector could earn much more than the public. Now the situation has partially turned upside down, especially in low-wage sectors, such as nursing.
Currently the officials The average earnings in Spain is almost € 3,000 per month. In the private sector, it is already almost a thousand euros less. Instead, there may be more working hours.
The Spanish government is currently planning to reduce working time to 37.5 hours from current 40 hours. Belen does not believe that working time will be reduced in practice.
– At least not in the private sector. If the official working time is shorter, employees will do more overtime without pay, Belen predicts.
A civil servant would make it easier to start a family
There is a tough Tunku in the public sector jobs in Spain. Therefore, Belen must pass the entrance exam required for those who want to be administrative officials.
The more he gets points from the exam, the higher he ranks on the list, the top of which gets the first vacant post.
The test is difficult, but Belen believes that deciding is worthwhile. The career of an official would make it easier to start a family, among other things. In the private sector, it is difficult to combine work and family life. In Spain, the birth rate is one of the lowest in the EU.
– I have seen how pregnant women and mothers of young children are discriminated against in working life. After maternity leave, returns often have to do the jobs that no one else wants to do, or the contract is not renewed, says Belen.
Sociologist Vicent Borras points out that, for example, in Barcelona, nearly 60 % of public sector employees are women.
– In the public sector, pregnancy is not punished. The long working days of the private sector make it almost impossible to combine work and family life.
Expert: No fear of state jobs disappearing
Spanish government recently decided to raise the minimum wage. Now it is about € 1,200 a month.
Still, the cost of living is too high for many. The rise in minimum wages is not enough to compensate, for example, by increased housing costs.
Rental housing is common, as sales prices for housing, especially in major cities, have risen to record high. For example, the capital In Madrid, the average price per square meter of dwellings is already around € 5,200 and in Barcelona over € 6,000. It’s more than in Helsinki.
It is also difficult to get a mortgage.
State workers are also in an advantage in the housing market.
“A job in the public sector often means financial balance and is rare in the Spanish labor market,” says Borras.
Right now, the public sector is being drastically cut, for example, in the United States and Argentina. In Spain, there is no such thing in sight.
Professor Vicent Borras believes that in Spain, officials will continue to work in the future:
Belen is also looking forward to a career in the state.
– I’m getting home from work in time and doing what I want.