Safe Work: Why Social Security Medical Inspectors are Striking on April 29

In protest against the unsafe conditions in which they work and the heavy workloads they bear, Social Security medical inspectors from the UGT union have announced a strike for April 29. These professionals are responsible for determining if employees on extended sick leave should continue in that status or return to work. In Madrid, they have also called for a gathering at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security headquarters on that day between 12:00 and 14:00.

Recent changes in regulations have led to an increase in the workload for medical inspectors, particularly due to the removal of the Medical Court in disability proceedings. This change has resulted in one medical inspector handling tasks previously addressed by a team of five professionals, creating frustration and vulnerability. This has led to verbal and physical attacks in highly contentious consultations. Moreover, there is a lack of staffing to adequately handle the increased workload. Worker representatives estimate that an increase in staff by almost 30% is necessary for quality service delivery. They stress the importance of better personnel planning, equitable distribution of workloads, and task rotations to address the ongoing demand.

Apart from safety concerns and heavy workloads, medical inspectors are also demanding fixed salaries with fewer variable supplements, as well as independence from the body that pays the benefits they adjudicate. The disappearance of medical courts a year ago has caused significant delays in resolving long-term temporary disability cases, prompting several strikes in various regions in the past year.

The Federation of Public Services of UGT explains that recent changes in regulations have led to an increase in the workload for medical inspectors, particularly due to the removal of the Medical Court in disability proceedings. This change has resulted in one medical inspector handling tasks previously addressed by a team of five professionals, creating frustration and vulnerability.

The disappearance of medical courts a year ago has caused significant delays in resolving long-term temporary disability cases, prompting several strikes in various regions in