Coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, workers of the Network to Combat Gender Violence of the City Hall and Community of Madrid called for a 24-hour strike to make visible the collapse and precariousness of services intended for women and children victims of gender-based violence.
The day, which will last until 11:59 p.m., includes demonstrations at Puerta del Sol and Plaza Cibeles to demand decent working conditions to provide quality care to users. “We are saturated, we cannot do it. The attention rate is very high and our conditions are very precarious“, denounce the workers.
Insufficient services and unprotected victims
Professionals warn that current gaps in the network make it difficult to protect and recover victims. Among the problems are long delays in access psychological services …with waits of up to three months… and lack of housing emergency for women who leave their homes after having suffered violence.
“We encountered women with children and protection orders left on the street, which this often leads them to return to the abuser” say the workers.
The workers ask: salary improvementswhich include bonuses for high qualifications, seniority and psychosocial risk; hasincrease in staff and full work schedules to reduce high turnover and ensure stability of care; humunicipalization of resourcestransforming services into public services to ensure their sustainability and professionalism.
According to the Workers’ Platform, current working conditions, as well as work overload, generate frustration and directly affect the quality of care offered to victims.
Budget increase, but insufficient
Madrid City Hall highlighted that over the last five years, the budget allocated to resources to combat gender-based violence has doubled, from 7 million in 2018 to 13.8 million in 2023. By 2025, an increase of 12% is expected, reaching 16 million.
Furthermore, in recent years, 71 new workers have joined the municipal network, including plans to hire 13 more in 2025. However, workers consider these measures insufficient in the face of growing demand and the current saturation level.
