The Hall of Acts at the Palacio de la Merced, headquarters of the Provincial Council of Cordoba, hosted the material handover for the 'Diputación Contrata 2026' program, now in its third edition. The initiative has a budget of 2.5 million euros and will facilitate the hiring of 625 unemployed individuals in the province's town halls and autonomous local entities (ELAs).
The president of the provincial institution, Salvador Fuentes, explained that the 2.5 million euro figure, maintained for the second consecutive year, serves as a "labor lever" for town halls, particularly during the summer period, helping to sustain essential municipal jobs. "These are 625 aids for the entire province," he emphasized.
The program's objective is to support town halls with labor tasks during periods of absence due to vacations or to reinforce essential departments such as swimming pools, lifeguards, or libraries. This measure aims to increase employment and familiarize young people with the labor market and municipal work according to their profiles.
The delegate for Economic Development, Promotion, and Employment, Félix Romero, highlighted the program's social focus, benefiting young people, older adults, long-term unemployed, and individuals with disabilities. Romero stated that the program restores autonomy to town halls, enabling them to provide useful and necessary public services to the province's towns, regardless of their size.
Regarding the distribution of contracts, Salvador Fuentes indicated that 248 will be allocated to individuals under 45 years old, 223 to those over 45, 80 to the long-term unemployed, and 74 to people with disabilities.
The services for the hired individuals primarily include common public space maintenance (398 contracts, 63.68%), followed by collective utility services (145 contracts, 23.02%), libraries and cultural activities (23 contracts, 3.68%), leisure and free time activities (27 contracts, 4.32%), and sports activities (20 contracts, 3.2%). Other services encompass collective transport (3), promotion of local products (2), and support for proximity commerce (1).
By trade, 169 contracts are for skilled trades, 139 for cleaning staff, 66 for multi-purpose employees, 59 for building maintenance, 48 for administrative staff, 44 for leisure and free time, 33 for environmental staff, 13 for library assistants, ten for ushers, nine for childcare workers, nine for drivers, eight for home care assistants, seven for janitors, seven for tourism and activities, and five for receptionists.
By inter-municipal associations, Subbética will receive 123 aids, Los Pedroches 127, Valle del Guadiato 77, Vega del Guadalquivir approximately 78, Campiña Sur 90, Alto Guadalquivir 77, the Guadajoz-Campiña Este area 44, and Encinarejo a total of nine.
This call for aid allows towns in the province, particularly those with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, to address needs in maintenance, public works, services, and cultural and sports activities. Contracts must commence the day after the final resolution is published and extend until December 31, 2026.
