Orihuela City Council has been hit with a hefty 89,100 euro fine by the General Treasury of Social Security due to a late payment of insurance premiums for municipal employees. The incident has led to a disciplinary investigation against the city’s treasurer, who mistakenly ordered the payment one day after the deadline.
The payment was due between September 1 and 30 but was not made until October 1.
In addition to the financial penalty, the council is grappling with another significant challenge, with the Social Services department facing a precarious future. A program contract aimed at stabilizing the workforce and strengthening the service is set to expire at the end of the year. The city council has not yet announced whether it will renew the contract or consolidate the positions of the staff currently employed under it.
The opposition party, Cambiemos, has warned that if the council fails to take action, more than half of the Social Services staff could be laid off. This would have a severe impact on the department’s ability to provide essential services to the public, particularly the most vulnerable.
The council’s Councillor for Human Resources and Social Welfare has responded to the concerns raised by Cambiemos, dismissing their claims as “irresponsible” and “totally false.” She has confirmed that the council is taking steps to stabilize the Social Services workforce and has outlined the measures being implemented to achieve this goal.
The situation in Orihuela highlights the challenges faced by many local governments in Spain, including financial pressures and difficulties in maintaining adequate staffing levels for essential services.
