The unions LAB, ESK, STEILAS, EHNE-Etxalde and HIRU have concentrated in front of the Hotel The Artist in Bilbao, where Confesbask has concentrated, and have published a press release.

In the note, they explain that Confesbask has been campaigning for months that they consider “fake news.” They say that the message of the campaign is that workers get out of work because they are useless and take advantage of other permits because they do not want to work.

They have asked the Basque Government not to join the 'false speech' of the Basque employers.

They have accused employers of reducing the permits, licenses and so on of workers, which is "a trend contrary to the rights acquired by workers for years". The unions consider that the goal of employers is empowerment and that to do so it is necessary to weaken public health. In this sense, they have pointed out that it is a question of "annulling the competencies of medical families" and delegating control of low currents.

He is accused of spreading the existence of dereliction fraud, using media, politicians and public institutions to do so.

The unions that have protested in Bilbao have given some data and arguments to refute that absenteeism in Hego Euskal Herria is a problem:

– In Europe, the Spanish state is among the five countries with the lowest absenteeism.

– In the Spanish State, fraud at ordinary casualties (pretending to be sick to get sick to leave) is 4% and presenteeism (assistance to work with illness or injured) is 41%.

– In Hego Euskal Herria, absenteeism is higher than in other territories of the Spanish State due to the greater weight of the industry and, therefore, the greater number of occupational accidents.

-Other arguments are also pointed out such as the increase in social victories thanks to union strength, the increase in strikes, the average ageing of workers, the increase in the presence of women in the world of paid work and the increased use of rights. In the opinion of the unions, these characteristics are not negative, “but a reflection of a more developed society”.

Reducing the number of absenteeism

They have called on companies to comply with occupational safety regulations and to ensure the safety of workers, as by strengthening prevention it will be possible to “radically reduce” absenteeism.

Two facts have been given demonstrating the existence of preventive work. On the one hand, in 2023 100,000 occupational accidents were reported in Hego Euskal Herria, half of which were discharged more than one day. On the other hand, at least 51 occupational deaths were recorded in 2024.