After 10 years of intense growth, Ferrovial continues to create jobs despite the international economic crisis.
82% of employees have long-term contracts. Most of these contracts are service contracts subject to subrogation in case of awarding to another company.
After 10 years of intense growth, Ferrovial continues to create jobs despite the international economic crisis. In 2008, Ferrovial increased its average workforce by 4,172 people, bringing the total to 106,596 employees. This represents a 4% increase in comparison with the same period last year. By business area, the economic crisis has hit hardest in the construction division, whose workforce was reduced by 0.2% in Spain.
Since February 2006, Ferrovial has had a Professional and Personal Life Conciliation Plan (Plan Concilia) in place for the purpose of creating a working environment that allows employees to meet their personal and family needs while maintaining their levels of productivity and competitiveness.
Thanks to this plan, which affects all employees in Spain, Ferrovial was already a step ahead when the new Spanish Equality Law was passed in 2008.
According to Spanish labor law in force, all Ferrovial employees can:
- In case of maternity – 16 week-leave after the birth, with the possibility of taking the last 10 weeks of maternity leave as part-time hours. Possibility of accumulating breastfeeding hours after maternity leave and substituting them for a 13 additional working dayleave. Request of an extended leave of absence without pay till the third year after the birth. Possibility of requesting reduced working hours due to legal guardianship responsibilities established in the labor law in force.
- In case of paternity – Two days of paid leave and an additional paternity leave of 13 working days.
Additionally, all structural staff in Spain can benefit from two measures:
- Extended maternity leave – With a view to facilitating preparations for the arrival of a future child in cases of both pregnancy and adoption, female workers are entitled to an extension on their maternity leave (paid leave of absence) of 14 calendar days to be taken immediately prior to the date of birth or legal completion of an adoption.
- Sabbatical leave – Employees who have worked for at least five consecutive years (not cumulative) at the company may request a sabbatical of no more than one month (to be taken in a single leave of absence) subject to prior consensus with their immediate superior with regard to the specific dates. This shall be considered a leave of absence without pay or rights accumulated during the period (vacation time, bonuses and variable remuneration). Social security contributions will be made based on the minimum wage for that employee’s professional category. Sabbaticals must be requested with at least two months’ advance notice, and while on leave employees may not perform any activities that are remunerated or incompatible with their professional activity at Ferrovial.
In 2009 there will be a revision of the aforementioned measures inside Ferrovial Equal Opportunities Plan launched by the new Internal Communication and Employee Corporate Responsibility Department.