Does language management influence the competitiveness of organisations? Does the use or not of a language affect the competitiveness of a company? Does the proper use of languages often bring benefits and benefits to a company? Can not managing a language be dangerous for an organization? Does the proper management of languages meet the demands and linguistic rights of workers, customers and consumers? What languages should be managed by companies and institutions in the Basque Country? Why? Depending on which criteria or characteristics of the company should the importance, appropriateness or obligation of language management be determined?
I would say that linguistic management is hardly talked about the people who run companies or all kinds of institutions. He is not able to speak unless there is a legal obligation or he is one of the usual and tireless activists of the company. But the variable of languages is inevitable insofar as languages add value to the product being produced or to the service being offered, in the value chain of companies of all kinds. Therefore, among these languages, Euskera is also a factor that can and should be managed internally and directed to consumers and users to increase the value of companies and entities based or active in the Basque Country. Companies, among many other variables, also have to manage languages. So do administrations and workers and consumers.
Regarding the rights of consumers and users, in the CAPV it is the most favorable situation in general terms. The recognized linguistic rights are, on the one hand, the right to receive information in Basque and Spanish on the goods and services and, on the other, the right to use both Basque and Spanish in our relations with companies and establishments located in the territorial sphere of the Autonomous Community. According to the current rules, these undertakings and establishments must be prepared to pay attention in any of the official languages. However, these rights will be exercised under the progressive conditions laid down in the regulations, excluding small businesses and micro-enterprises. In general, we can say that, despite the fact that language rights are fundamental rights, the existing rules do not sufficiently specify duties.
In this context, the Basque Parliament has initiated the revision of the law governing the Statute for Consumers and Users and has started receiving contributions. The socio-linguistic situation has changed since the adoption of the previous law in 2003, increasing the number of bilingual individuals. The use of Euskera in the spaces of the socioeconomic space is increasingly necessary from the point of view of the statements of both the administration and the Basque cultural institutions, and the demand for citizenship is increasing. The Basque Country is also a characteristic of the consumer and user with discretion. We want to consume autochthonous, close, ecological, quality, and the consumer assets with criteria that give importance to the Basque country are key.
We must make a leap in this area, given that we are talking about the right to receive services and products in Basque. If we return to the situation, steps must be taken in regulation, planning and resources. It is time to make the leap, if we represent the future in Basque. Each of them — administrations, businesses, workers, consumers and users — has its own responsibilities. It is up to us to be aware of them, to manage them responsibly and to implement more effective measures.