Bill that would set common rules for wildfire firefighters

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would establish a common framework for the duties of personnel working as wildfire firefighters in fire suppression and, where applicable, prevention, surveillance, detection, public information and support for incidents in the natural and rural environment.
2. It would apply to wildfire firefighters and to public administrations and related entities, but it excludes military personnel, law enforcement bodies, volunteers and those operating aerial resources.
3. Personnel assigned to suppression teams would have the status of public employees, and those working under an employment contract would be governed by the Workers' Statute. Administrations would have to coordinate these teams with Civil Protection emergency plans.
4. The competent administrations would set the professional classification and the procedure for accrediting skills and training. Ongoing training would preferably take place during working hours at no cost to the worker, and would include training on gender equality and preventing gender-based violence.
5. Specific rights are recognized: promoting recognition in pay of hazards, physical effort or psychophysical risk, guaranteeing legal defense for personnel, and applying occupational risk prevention rules. Working hours and gender equality plans would also be regulated.
6. If the company providing the service changes, personnel would be transferred with their recognized rights, though this would not automatically grant public employee status without passing a selection process. A second-activity scheme is planned for those whose capacity is reduced by medical opinion, and the Government would have to approve, within one year, a specific regulation on occupational risk prevention.

Who it affects

• Wildfire firefighters: They would get a common framework of duties, training, rights, working hours and protection nationwide.
• Public administrations and related entities: They would have to guarantee coordination, professional classification, training and risk prevention for personnel.
• Contracted suppression companies: They would need to provide rural emergency, forestry or environmental services, and would transfer personnel if the contract changes hands.
• Military personnel, police, volunteers and aerial operators: They fall outside the scope of the bill.

Words worth knowing

Subrogación (transfer of personnel)

When the company or entity providing a service changes, workers keep their job and rights.

Segunda actividad (second activity)

A position with adapted duties for someone who, for health reasons, can no longer do regular suppression work.

Empleado público (public employee)

A person who works for a public administration under an official service relationship, whether as a civil servant or as contracted staff.

Medio propio instrumental (in-house instrument)

A company or entity created by a public administration to carry out its own services.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries