Latest news with #ElMundo
Mint
17 hours ago
- Mint
Man gets ₹26 lakh for unpaid salary without working for even a day; company loses case in court
An Abu Dhabi court has ordered a company to pay a man Dh110,400 ( ₹ 26 lakh) for unpaid wages. The man was hired but never allowed to start work. He filed a case asking for salary from 11 November 2024 to 7 April 2025. His contract promised a basic salary of Dh7,200 ( ₹ 1.70 lakh) and a total monthly pay of Dh24,000 ( ₹ 5.65 lakh). But, the company kept delaying his joining date without paying him, according to the Khaleej Times. The company's lawyer asked the court to move the case to another department. However, the court found that the delay was the employer's fault, based on salary records and contract documents. The UAE court ruled in favour of the employee, saying wages must be paid on time as per the Labour Law. The law clearly states that a worker's salary is their right and cannot be held back unless the worker has officially agreed to it or the company has legal proof, according to the publication. In this case, the employer claimed the worker didn't report to duty and took leave. However, the court found no proper investigation to support this claim. The employee admitted to taking eight days off, which were deducted. The court ordered a salary payment for four months and 18 days. In an earlier story, a Spanish government worker, Joaquín Garcia, reportedly skipped work for at least six years, maybe even 14 years, while still receiving his salary. The truth came out in 2010, when he was about to get an award for long and faithful service to the city of Cadiz. The 69-year-old engineer had worked for the local government since 1990. In 1996, he was sent to the city's water department to oversee a sewage treatment plant. But, according to reports, he had not shown up to work for years. 'He was still on the payroll. I thought, where is this man? Has he retired? Has he died?' the deputy mayor, Jorge Blas Fernandez, later told El Mundo.
Local Spain
4 days ago
- Business
- Local Spain
What happened to the 150,000 homes that vanished from Spain's rental market?
Renting For Members Greedy landlords? Wealthy foreigners pricing everyone out? Some experts point to another reason why so many properties have left Spain's long-term rental market in recent years. Looking to move? Find your next rental apartment here. At a time when Spaniards are once again taking to the streets to protest tourist rental accommodation and demand affordable housing, experts believe thousands of properties could have left the long-term rental market in recent years. It's well known that Spain is suffering a housing crisis. This feels particularly true in the post-pandemic period, when a combination of low supply and increasing numbers of tourist rental accommodation has caused market inflation. In many cities across the country, prices have grown so quickly that locals are being forced out of their own neighbourhoods. Renting now costs Spaniards on average 47 percent of their salary while salaries themselves have grown by just 7.4 percent in the last three years. Landlords (very often Spanish landlords, it should be said) are increasingly taking their rental properties off the market and converting them into much more profitable Airbnbs. Many, therefore, blame this perceived avarice as one of the underlying causes of the country's housing crisis, along with the increasing numbers of tourists and digital nomads arriving in the country, who are also contributing to the problem. But there could also be another reason, one the Socialist-led Spanish government might not have foreseen. An interesting recent article published in Spanish daily El Mundo has pointed to the country's controversial Housing Law, which has just marked its second anniversary, as a major reason why. Citing industry experts, it states that a staggering 150,000 rental properties in Spain have disappeared from the market since the law was passed in May 2023. According to figures from property website Idealista, stock has fallen by 17 percent overall, while another study by the Rental Observatory of the Fundación Alquiler Seguro estimates that up to 120,000 units have disappeared and that the figure will rise to 150,000 by the end of 2025. Reporting suggests that for four out of ten estate agencies in Spain, the supply of long-term rental properties in their portfolios has fallen by more than 50 percent since the law came into force, while demand continues to grow by more than 20 percent. So, what happened here? Bad lawmaking? Prices have skyrocketed despite the government's attempted interventions, experts say, mainly due to the declining market supply. This is an increasingly common problem across the country. El Mundo cities figures showing that in Barcelona stock has fallen by 46 percent. In Córdoba, that number is 66 percent; in Bilbao and San Sebastián, 36 percent; Palma, 35 percent; Seville 31 percent; Málaga 23 percent ; and 21 percent in Madrid. El Mundo also used a lesser known but illuminating metric to measure just how serious Spain's housing crisis has become. 'Another way of measuring this,' it states, is to look at 'the competition between prospective tenants for flats on offer". Looking at how many people are competing for rental properties in various cities: "In Barcelona, there is an average of 61 families for every advert, followed by Palma (57), Madrid (42), Bilbao (37), San Sebastián (37) and Seville (35).' Some experts blame rent caps in 'stressed' rental markets for this. Per the Housing Law, areas considered to be 'stressed' if prices exceeded the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of their respective province by five points or where families dedicated more than 30 percent of their salary to paying the rent. This was one of the more controversial parts of the law. So far, only Catalonia and the Basque Country have applied these caps, but Hernández and Fosch argue that the 'effect is enough to send a message to other investors and owners about what may lie ahead if all regions follow suit." "This is therefore the fundamental reason behind the flight of many landlords from the long-term residential rental market," they add. Idealista analysed data from the 15 largest Catalan cities and saw that the number of long-term rental contracts has dropped by 21.5 percent since the Housing Law and the rental cap came into effect. Put simply - have landlords looked at the price caps in Catalonia and the Basque Country and decided to take their properties off the market before similar rules come into place in their region? 'Many owners don't want to put their homes on the long-term rental market because of insecurity and fear of so-called inquiocupación," Ferran Font, director of research at the website told El Mundo. 'We are also seeing that heirs, who previously opted to rent out their properties and obtain a return over time, are now directly opting to sell because they do not want to take risks with tenants and because they want to take advantage of current sale prices,' Font adds. As a result, many of the properties that have been on the rental market for a long time are now being put up for sale. Temporary rentals Whether or not landlords actually sell, or simply remove their property from the market, many thousands of these flats end up becoming seasonal/temporary rentals or short-term tourist rentals like Airbnb. El Mundo cites data that in Málaga, one of the cities most affected by the flight of affordable rental properties, the income from a tourist flat can exceed that of a conventional rental by up to 400 percent. Price caps and legislation in certain regions is one thing, but in many cases around other parts of Spain, the answer seems clear: profit. In fact, many landlords now opt for seasonal rentals or rooms as a way to circumvent Housing Law rules. Temporary contracts and rooms have become a loophole for landlords who have used them as a way to put up prices and avoid estate agency fees. According to data from the specialist website Idealista, seasonal rentals have gained momentum with a 25 percent year-on-year increase in supply in the first quarter of 2025 and now account for 14 percent of the entire rental market in Spain. In Barcelona, 47 percent of homes on offer are seasonal rentals, while in San Sebastián they account for 37 percent of the total. With all the recent legal changes and uncertainty, some landlords just prefer to leave their properties empty. According to data from a Fotocasa Research survey, almost 3 percent of homeowners in Spain have a vacant property, either because it's in an inhabitable condition, but also because of fears about non-payment or damage to the property (18 percent) and fear of not being able to recover it in the event of default (10 percent). Clearly, a combination of factors have caused the mass flight of properties from Spain's rental market. The profit motive on behalf of landlords, of course, is one, something many in Spain might say is pure greed, but it also seems that the Spanish governments attempted market interventions such as price caps - however well intended - have caused uncertainty in the market, spooked many landlords and caused them to look for loopholes or ways around the new legislation. See Also
See - Sada Elbalad
25-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Spain establishes Madrid Group to stop war in Gaza
Amir Hagag Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares will meet on Sunday with the Madrid Group, a group of European and Arab countries promoting a two-state solution as a means of resolving the Middle East conflict and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. The Spanish newspaper El Mundo noted that through this meeting, Spain seeks to promote dialogue to "end the humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip and move toward a political solution to the conflict with two states, Israel and Palestine, able to live side by side in peace and security. This meeting comes amid escalating tensions with Israel following the horrific shooting this week of a group of European, American, and Arab diplomats, including a Spanish diplomat, during their visit to Jenin (West Bank). The European Union has decided to review its Association Agreement with Israel, following a request supported by 17 of its 27 partners, including Spain. Today's meeting, the second held by this group, brings together the European and Arab countries that spearheaded these initiatives, along with Spain: the countries of the Contact Group of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European countries that recently recognized Palestine (Spain, Norway, Slovenia, and Ireland). This event, in an expanded format (Madrid+), will be joined by other countries that are very active in implementing the two-state solution. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- News.com.au
Inside drug-ravaged ‘Zombieland' airport used by thousands of passengers
Tourists arriving at the largest airport in Spain have been welcomed with harrowing sights of sleeping 'zombies'. Passengers jetting into Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid were shocked to see the homeless taking shelter on every level of the terminal. Almost 500 'unauthorised occupants' live on the airport premises to avoid rough sleeping on the cold streets. El Mundo's report said: 'What began as a large group of homeless people spending the night, night after night, on Level 1 of Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has finally become overwhelming. 'They can now be found on any floor, in any corner, despite the temperature reduction at nightfall or the constant messages over the PA system that resonate every few minutes.' Tourism bosses fear that a recent increase in reported drug use and violence among the population may deter tourists from visiting the capital city. Dozens of men and women have been seen sleeping on floors in Terminal 4. Rough sleepers can sometimes be found resting at restaurant tables and lavatory entrances. Cleaners are also often required to clean urine from the floor after drunk people relieve themselves where they sleep. According to the Spanish newspaper El Debate, employees are planning to complain to the Ministry of Labour about the 'more than obvious risk' to their well-being. Spanish reports also state that crack and other drug use, as well as prostitution, are widespread among the population. Some residents have also been caught in possession of knives, machetes, and other handmade weapons. Many are residing in the airport as they struggle to live in a city where living and housing costs have rocketed in recent years. Fernando from Peru has been living at the airport for several months and told Daily Mail: 'You definitely have to sleep with one eye open. 'There are some bad eggs here who will rob you while you sleep, they usually come out at 3am, they'll take your phone, cigarettes, or whatever they can grab. 'A lot of the people are working for cash during the day in the black economy, then come back with alcohol and get drunk on whiskey and rum. Many have been living here for years.' Police often patrol the terminal, checking the residents' documents and looking out for any criminals wanted by the authorities. Tensions among the occupants have been known to spark brawls every now and then. The UGT trade union has slammed the government over the tackling of the issue. They said in a statement: 'Workers are exposed to dangerous situations in an environment that has not been designed or prepared for this type of problem. 'Travellers themselves, unaware of this situation, are also suffering the consequences, facing an environment of insecurity unbecoming of a key infrastructure for the country.' Meanwhile, NGO workers who support the homeless have also accused the government of failing the vulnerable group. Gaspar Garcia, head of the Despega project at the Bokatas NGO added: 'Instead of seeking housing or inclusion solutions, they have decided to relocate them to a very specific area – on the first floor of Terminal 4 – without basic conditions: no cleanliness, no security, no opportunity for real rest.' It comes as the airport has also been faced with a reported bedbug infestation this week. Airport workers claimed to have been plagued by insect bites, leading to the airport's managing body to hire pest control. The company has had to fumigate hallways, furniture, and even check-in belts for bedbugs, ticks, and cockroaches. But a Naturalia report into the alleged outbreak isn't such a big deal, suggesting that the bites were 'a one-off incident with no determined origin'.
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside ‘Zombieland' airport infested with bedbugs where ‘hidden city' of the homeless sleep on every level of terminal
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TOURISTS arriving at the largest airport in Spain are welcomed with harrowing sights of sleeping 'zombies'. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has turned into an apocalyptic city infested with bedbugs and homeless taking shelter on every level of the terminal. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Around 500 people live on the airport premises Credit: AP 5 Homeless have been forced to take shelter inside due to rising living costs Credit: AP 5 The 'unauthorised occupants' take up most of the terminal 4 Credit: AP Almost 500 "unauthorised occupants" live on the airport premises to avoid rough sleeping on the cold streets. El Mundo's report said: "What began as a large group of homeless people spending the night, night after night, on Level 1 of Terminal 4 of Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has finally become overwhelming. "They can now be found on any floor, in any corner, despite the temperature reduction at nightfall or the constant messages over the PA system that resonate every few minutes." Tourism bosses fear that a recent increase in reported drug use and violence among the population may deter tourists from visiting the capital city. Terminal 4 has turned into the epicentre of the crisis with dozens men and women seen laying down on the floor. The homeless occupy any available spot from restaurant tables to lavatory entrances. A puddle of urine on the floor is a common sight with the drunk people relieving themselves where they sleep. According to the Spanish newspaper El Debate, employees are planning to complain to the Ministry of Labour about the "more than obvious risk" to their well-being. Airport workers have reported having insect bites, leading to the airport's managing body to hire pest control. The company has had to fumigate hallways, furniture, and even check-in belts for bedbugs, ticks, and cockroaches. Frozen in Time: Inside the Ghostly Ruins of Nicosia International Airport But a Naturalia report into the alleged outbreak isn't such a big deal, suggesting that the bites were "a one-off incident with no determined origin". Spanish reports also state that crack and other drug use, as well as prostitution, are widespread amongst the population. Some residents have also been caught in possession of knives, machetes, and other handmade weapons. Many are residing in the airport as they struggle to live in a city where living and housing costs have rocketed in recent years. Fernando from Peru has been living at the airport for several months and told DailyMail: "You definitely have to sleep with one eye open. "There are some bad eggs here who will rob you while you sleep, they usually come out at 3am, they'll take your phone, cigarettes, or whatever they can grab. "A lot of the people are working for cash during the day in the black economy, then come back with alcohol and get drunk on whiskey and rum. Many have been living here for years." Police often patrols the terminal, checking the residents' documents and looking out for any criminals wanted by the authorities. Tensions amongst the occupants are also common with brawls breaking out every now and then. The UGT trade union has slammed the government over the tackling of the issue. They said in a statement: "Workers are exposed to dangerous situations in an environment that has not been designed or prepared for this type of problem. "Travelers themselves, unaware of this situation, are also suffering the consequences, facing an environment of insecurity unbecoming of a key infrastructure for the country." Meanwhile, NGO workers who support the homeless have also accused the government of failing the vulnerable group. Gaspar Garcia, head of the Despega project at the Bokatas NGO added: "Instead of seeking housing or inclusion solutions, they have decided to relocate them to a very specific area - on the first floor of Terminal 4 - without basic conditions: no cleanliness, no security, no opportunity for real rest." 5 They can be found sleeping near restaurants, toilet entrances and on every level Credit: AP
