270 Jimena residents benefit from different parts of the Dependent's Law

JIMENA (Press release) The so-called Ley de Dependencia ('Dependance Law' is another translation) allows for help and support for those who are dependent on others for their care, and/or the carers themselves. It is a national law but in terms of Jimena, the Department of Equality and Welfare headed by Councillor Mercedes Segovia, announces that some 270 residents of the municipality benefitted from the law last year. Of these, 187 received financial support for caring within the home, while the rest (83) were given caring assistance by the Servicio de Ayuda a Domicilio, which is presently carried out by ACASA, a concession company via Diputación de Cádiz. In Jimena, this company employs 40 staff, of which 8 were new last year. Staffing forecasts say that about 10 new people could be taken on during 2011.>

Home help employees demo in Jimena

JIMENA
The main square in Jimena was the scene yesterday afternoon of a demonstration by the local staff of home help concessionaire CLECE (see JP item here), supported by representatives of the UGT union's Federation of Public Services, several carers from Castellar and from Jimena Counciol, headed by Mayor Pascual Collado. The demo is a prior step to an 'indefinite' walkout scheduled for April 25. Speaking to one of the demonstrators, we understand that they are principally concerned about their patients. "We have a long list of do's and dont's, including things like not to go shopping for them, not even to speak to them," she said. (We are waiting to get hold of the list, so watch this space.) They are also protesting about unnecessary redundacies and being asked to a lot more work for the same wages, which they say they are receiving late.