Living in Mallorca is your choice…
By Shirley Roberts
A choice that hundreds of people make every year. The Soller Valley is high on the list of preferred places to live and settle.
In the Soller Valley you will find many things including beauty, light, people who have made the same choices you have, business opportunities, art and culture in all its forms.
You will also find poverty as 10.4% of the population of the Balearics live in extreme poverty. This group of 115,000 people live all over the island including the Soller Valley and survive on an income of less than 332 euros per month.
Families are in this group and children who are hungry. The school meal service is great on school days but children are hungry seven days a week.
The message to all people considering relocation and living here is you are moving to a community that needs considered help. If you are an employer, please don’t come here to exploit a cheap labour force who are desperate to earn money to feed their families. Please pay the proper wage for the job.
If you employ a cleaner or domestic help please do not insult them with less than minimum wage because they are desperate for work.
New people come to Mallorca bursting with good ideas and enthusiasm for new ventures. Many lose their credibility the minute they start talking about how little they intend to pay their workers. Exploitation is not admired by the people here. Locals and incomers alike spend much time and effort on charitable works to benefit those that have least here in Mallorca.
Fair wages for all and a share of profits in good times is what the people of Mallorca want. There is no respect for employers who have the bumper years like 2016 has been and then plead poverty when it comes to pay rises for staff. Employers old and new have a responsibility not to perpetuate low wages which lead to life on or just above the poverty line.
The figures released today in the Majorca Daily Bulletin make very depressing reading. I quote
‘Over a quarter of the population are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. Despite economic growth with tourism being the main driver there appears to be no solution to the serious problem of poverty in the Balearics.
Aspects include 85,000 living in conditions of severe material deprivation with 41,000 being unable to eat meat or fish at least twice a week.’
This information is supplied for balance to those considering moving here. If you join us and resolve to contribute positively to your new community, you are very welcome.
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