Electronic appointments | The CES warns of the growing black market of electronic appointments for public services

2023-05-31 20:38:18

He Economic and social Council (CES) appreciates the Government’s decision to maintain public aid to cushion the impact of the pandemic and the inflation and to alleviate the situation poverty of the most vulnerable social classes, but warns of the growing “black market” of electronic appointments for access to processing of these aids and to public services. The president of the CES, Anton Costasduring the presentation of the Socio-economic and employment report of Spain 2022where he requested a return to face-to-face appointments, so that the groups with the most difficult access to electronic media can more easily relate to the public administration.

The Economic and Social Council calls for a return to face-to-face appointments, more accessible for the most vulnerable groups

The Report underlines that “throughout 2022 significant difficulties continued to be detected in the processing of benefits of the Social Securitydue to delays in granting appointments, lack of availability of face-to-face appointments at Social Security offices and delay in access to benefits”. The text agreed between the social groups represented in the CES recalls the right of citizens to defense in administrative procedures and calls for progress in measures to improve the face-to-face attention, “especially to people affected by the digital divide and in situations of social vulnerability“, expand the telephone service and develop the actions of the Social Security digitization Plan.

The “black market for appointments” to which Costas referred does not only affect Social Security, but all areas of public services, according to the president of the CES himself. Costas expressed his concern that if this scourge in Spain becomes widespread, it could end up being reflected in the international corruption rankings.

Beyond this, the CES considers that the implementation of the minimum vital income (IMV) has not proceeded with the agility that the situation of the poverty risk in Spain, exacerbated by the high loss of purchasing power. Especially noteworthy is the start-up of the employment incentiveor, to avoid the poverty trap. The norm establishes the non-reduction of the amount for an increase in income that comes from work of up to 60%, within a complex casuistry. “The result is that the impact of the incentive is very uncertain,” said the president of the Working Commission in charge of preparing the Report, Raymond Torresduring his presentation to the media.

“Unexpected Economic Spring”

On the general situation of the country, the president of the CES stressed that Spain is experiencing an “unexpected economic spring”, contrary to the recession that most of the forecasts were advancing in 2022. “Everything indicates that this spring will continue in 2023. The economy will take its foot off the accelerator, but it will not step on the brake,” said Costas, although “in the year 2024 there may not be as many spring,” added Torres after underlining the difficulties that the return of budgetary fiscal rules and the progressive depletion of the family savings pool accumulated during the pandemic will bring.

CES sees “an unexpected economic spring” in 2023, but anticipates not in 2024

In the 2022 Report agreed between the social agents, the CES notes the mitigating role of economic, labor and social policy in the face of inflation and global uncertainties after the war in Ukraine.

This advisory body of the Government sees a risk in the entrenchment of inflation -and in possible greater effects of second round-, as well as in an additional tightening of the monetary politics, that could deteriorate the situation of homes and businesses. The Report stresses that during the past year, the gross unitary surplus of the companies (profit) explained 90.7% of the increase in GDP deflator, compared to 10.9% contributed by unit labor income and a negative contribution of 1.6% from taxes. According to data provided by Raymond Torres, profits have increased up to 3.1% above the level of 2019, compared to a decrease in labor income of 2.9%. Hence – he added – the importance of the recently signed V Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining for the period 2023-2025, which in the opinion of the CES should help to recover part of the purchasing power lost by working people.