The Congress has recently approved two foundational laws for forest firefighters and agents, receiving no opposing votes. This legal framework aims to establish uniform conditions across the country, including provisions for training, safety, and early retirement. The next step is for these laws to go through the Senate for final approval.
The initiatives received initial backing from most parliamentary groups, although the Popular Party (PP), Vox, and Union del Pueblo Navarro (UPN) abstained. These laws intend to regulate the professions of forest firefighters and environmental agents nationwide for the first time. Previously, the autonomous communities managed the regulations independently, leading to inconsistencies and inequalities.
The legislation for forest firefighters will set basic conditions for over 20,000 professionals, while the law concerning environmental agents will cover around 6,000 individuals in that field. A significant amendment introduced during the discussion was to allow early retirement for rural agents, proposed by the ERC.
Additionally, modifications included excluding the Basque Country from the forest firefighting law since that region already has different regulations. For forest firefighters, key aspects of the law include the official recognition of them as a distinct profession at the national level, defining their roles in not just firefighting but also in prevention, detection, surveillance, and public education about natural disasters.
The reforms will also incorporate legal provisions for early retirement, which is available to firefighters employed by public administrations. For environmental agents, the new regulations will enhance their status as special administrative and judicial police, confirming their authority in various legal contexts.
The current laws create a unified framework despite prior existing state regulations in environmental matters. They address the need for consistency by establishing a nationwide baseline for fire and environmental management. Enhancements in the law for forest firefighters include extending retirement age coefficients, clarifying their emergency role, and promoting gender equality and public management practices.
The law governing environmental agents consolidates their roles, primarily related to the preservation and protection of forest assets, emergency response in natural settings, and oversight within these domains. This includes outlining their responsibilities, ensuring legal security, and reinforcing their status as authority figures regardless of jurisdiction.
However, the Central Independent and Public Servants Union (CSIF) has called for clearer definitions concerning several improvements proposed in the laws, such as workplace adjustments for health limitations, regulations concerning companies that may hire these services, and the necessity for specific regulations regarding occupational risk prevention.
Before the voting occurred, forest firefighters and environmental agents met with Vice President Teresa Ribera. During the plenary debate, PSOE lawmaker José Luis Aceves Galindo expressed pride in advocating these initiatives, citing his more than 30 years of public service as a forest agent. He emphasized that the passage of these laws would be possible due to the commitment of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ribera’s significant efforts.
Aceves pointed out that these public servants protect and conserve the environment, urging those who support this cause to vote accordingly. He criticized the President of the Junta de AndalucÃa, Juanma Moreno Bonilla, for providing inadequate support to forest firefighters.
On the flip side, Tomás Cabezón Casas from the Popular Parliamentary Group criticized Sánchez and Ribera for allegedly disregarding the viewpoints of autonomous communities and local governments in shaping these laws. He highlighted the disconnection of the government with the concerns of forest agents and firefighters, suggesting their responses to environmental issues fluctuate based on political affiliations in different regions.
Cabezón encapsulated his points by accusing the government of politicizing environmental discussions and failing to take responsibility for its policies, especially during crises.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/24/el-congreso-aprueba-sin-votos-en-contra-las-leyes-para-agentes-y-bomberos-forestales-y-las-remite-al-senado/
