The Agency for Emergencies of Andalusia (EMA) has highlighted that the workforce for the Infoca Plan in the province of Cádiz exceeds 90% coverage. The remaining personnel will join in the coming days, ensuring the protocol's full operational capacity during the high-risk forest fire season, which runs from June 1st to October 15th.
The plan to extend contracts to 12 months for all fixed-term discontinuous personnel in the operation has been finalized. This historic measure, agreed upon with unions, has involved a significant budgetary effort of approximately three million euros, allowing personnel to continue working on prevention and other forest-related tasks throughout the year, not just during the summer protocol.
The Infoca workforce in the province of Cádiz totals 441 workers, stationed in forest centers such as Algodonales, Alcalá de los Gazules, sub-centers in El Estrecho and Barbate, and the operational center in Cádiz. At the Andalusian level, the total employment figure for the operation reaches 4,846 job positions.
The Andalusian Administration has also offered and awarded 35 positions for Forest Firefighter and Natural Environment Emergency Officer and Sub-officer Corps. With these positions, Andalusia becomes the first autonomous community to have specific bodies for command functions in forest fires.
Furthermore, Public Employment Offers have been announced for the incorporation of 234 permanent positions, in addition to those for replacement rates in the coming years, filling vacancies due to ordinary or early retirement. The Ministry has emphasized the creation of the Job Catalog for EMA Infoca's own labor personnel, providing legal security and order to the staff.
Finally, a preliminary agreement has been reached with the unions CCOO, CSIF, and UGT to recognize an Operational Experience and Professional Development bonus, addressing a long-standing demand from workers. These labor improvements, resulting from unprecedented investment, aim to acknowledge the dedication, sacrifice, and high professionalism of the staff.
