The Economy Commission of the Barcelona City Council has recently made a significant decision impacting the city's hotel sector. On March 19, 2025, the commission approved a proposal to invest part of the municipal tourist surcharge in improving the working conditions of hotel cleaning staff, commonly referred to as "camareras de piso" or "Kellys." This decision was spearheaded by the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) party, which advocated for enhancing the job prospects and working environment of this essential workforce.
Councilor Jordi Castellana, speaking on behalf of ERC, highlighted the crucial role that these workers play in maintaining the quality and reputation of Barcelona's hotels. He stated, "The cleaning staff, known colloquially as the Kellys, perform vital tasks in the tourism and hotel sector of Barcelona, directly contributing to the service quality offered by establishments." However, he raised concerns, noting, "The nature of this work imposes significant physical wear on the workers."
Castellana pointed out that while there have been advances in increasing the minimum wage, these have often coincided with an increase in workload. He indicated that in some instances, workers are assigned more rooms to clean or face extended working hours without proportionate pay. This has galvanized ERC's insistence on the need to improve working conditions for these predominantly female, migrant workers.
The proposal received broad support within the city council, being approved with votes from ERC, the PSC (Partido de los Socialistas de Catalunya), Junts, and Barcelona en Comú, while the PP (Partido Popular) and Vox abstained. It aims not only to improve the immediate working conditions of the Kellys but also to ensure continuous quality training through the establishment of a dedicated fund financed by contributions from the tourist tax and hotel business associations.
According to the ERC proposal, the fund is designed to facilitate the design of professional career projects that can help cleaning staff transition into various roles within the tourism sector. This initiative echoes a growing recognition of the need for improved labor rights and working conditions within the hospitality industry.
As part of the initiative, an information campaign, coupled with possible sanctions, will be enacted to ensure compliance with labor rights as outlined in collective agreements governing the sector. This step will be implemented following a collaboration agreement signed between the Labor Inspectorate and the Urban Guard.
In the wake of this approval, Castellana emphasized the importance of collaboration between public authorities and social agents to ensure the rights of these workers are upheld. He mentioned the physical toll that cleaning jobs can impose, and he reiterated that while efforts are being made to improve wages, the workload has frequently increased, leaving workers in precarious situations.
Castellana remarked, "Policies like these demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the living and working conditions of those who support our tourism industry, and it's essential we recognize their contributions to the city's economic fabric." The collective agreement aimed at advocating better labor rights was framed as a necessary measure to protect a workforce that is often overlooked and undervalued.
The ERC's initiative marks a pivotal point in Barcelona's approach to labor rights within the hospitality industry, setting a precedent for future efforts to enhance working conditions. This move comes amid a backdrop of growing demands across Europe for improved labor standards, highlighting the need for cities to re-evaluate how they engage with essential services staff empowered by tourist revenue.
As Barcelona continues to develop as a prime tourist destination, the implications of this decision are expected to resonate throughout the industry, potentially influencing the landscape of labor relations and standards for years to come. With the backing of key parties and community organizations, there is optimism that this initiative will not only result in enhanced working conditions but will also foster a more equitable labor environment for all workers within the city's vibrant tourism sector.
The initiative, particularly in terms of its funding and professional development aspects, reflects a growing understanding of labor rights and economic interdependence. The work done by "the Kellys" is becoming a focal point in discussions surrounding workforce welfare, with city leaders adamant about pushing for reformative changes to help ensure their well-being and recognition as integral contributors to Barcelona's thriving economy.
Now, as the implementation of these plans unfolds, all eyes will be on how effectively these strategies will enhance the working conditions and empowerment of hotel cleaning staff, a labor group that often operates in silence but supports the operational backbone of one of the world's leading tourist destinations.
