At the end of December, the Cabinet of Sociological Prospection of the Basque Government published the results of the study "Opinions on the Basque Country". Respondents were asked about a few promotional activities for the Basque country. Among the responses related to the world of work, I would point out that, on the one hand, 95% agree that the administration should respond in the language chosen by citizens, and on the other hand, only 4% of companies and/or private entities ask whether they should make an effort to respond to or attend to the language chosen by citizens. According to the study, almost nobody is against these two ideas. In other words, almost everyone agrees that citizens should respond in whatever language they want.

Regarding the use of Euskera in companies, 85% of the cases said that companies should offer young workers the possibility of working in Euskera in their jobs, while only 4% opposed this idea. It has only been asked about young workers, given a higher level of knowledge of the generation that is perhaps being launched into the labour market.

Education, public administration, cultural activities and the media are, in the opinion of the majority of the Basque population, the priority areas for the promotion of the Basque country. Trade and workplaces fall below priorities (6.9 and 6.6 points out of 10 respectively).

As I say, this is an investigation into a few opinions. To deepen the perceptions and attitudes around Euskera, we would need a broader research than is necessary to properly guide policies and planning, as it is necessary to know the opinions, motivations and perceptions of citizenship.

Those who are making politics lately are several judges. At the beginning of the year, the High Court of Justice of the Basque Country has issued a judgment, following the request of the CCOO trade union. As specified therein, the City of Barakaldo may not lay down Euskera requirements for the personnel of private companies providing municipal services, even if the legal situation of the contractor is not that of the individual, but that of the managing administrative service. This will violate citizens' rights.

Judges are not taking into account current legislation, in accordance with Decree 179/2019 on the standardization of the institutional and administrative use of official languages in Basque local entities, as they may include in the contracts the necessary clauses as well as those relating to language. In addition, it envisages the need to incorporate into jobs personnel trained to work in both official languages. According to the Municipal Law of Local Entities of the Basque Country, the contracts concluded by the Local Entities will include the necessary clauses in each case for citizens to be attended in the official language they choose and for the provision of the service, under the same linguistic conditions that are required of the administration of the service.

The establishment, appraisal and consideration of language clauses to respond in the language desired by citizens should be inexcusable in public procurement, in the award of services and in the calls for grants, especially in the case of services aimed at persons resident in this territory or with public projection. Responsibility and enforcement influence the development of one’s own language, coexistence and well-being.

Rober Gutiérrez, Director of the Bai Euskarari Association