Bosses say they will operate with “minimum” staff due to the housing crisis across the Balearic Islands and “don’t know what will happen” if there is a sickness episode and no replacements are available.
And the head of Majorca’s nightclub association, Miguel Perez-Marsa says it is a “very serious problem” which could have a major impact on opening hours and an early end to the season.
Most of the nightclubs are due to open for weekends on April 11 and many will continue to close during the week until the full season hits.
The nightclub association, Abone admits the openings will be with the minimum of staff due to the problems with recruitment. This has been echoed by restaurants and hotels who also say they can no longer recruit Spanish waiters because no one can afford the high rents in the Balearics.
This is currently the major issue affecting the islands which recently saw protest marches about the high rents as owners prefer to rent to tourists rather than locals because they can get much more per month.
Mr Perez-Marsa says they are praying that nothing untoward happens as they will not have any staff replacements.
He has compared the present situation to participating in a Paris-Dakar rally where any breakdown to any part of the vehicle “can leave you out of the race.”
“The sector is experiencing a very serious problem when it comes to finding workers because in Mallorca, we pay higher salaries…but what used to be very attractive wages now do not compensate for what is charged to access housing or to eat a simple meal,” he said.
More than 3,500 people took part in the latest housing protest march in Mallorca last Saturday, a scene replicated in more than 40 Spanish cities.
Slogans on banners said: “Let’s change course. Let’s put limits on tourism”, “Mallorca is not for sale” and “Housing is a right, not a business.”
Although the protest was peaceful, extremists earlier targeted several real estate agency offices in Mallorca were daubed with graffiti accusing them of being “guilty” of the crisis.
The Balearic government says it has the greatest respect for the protesters but believes the only way to solve the problem is to increase the supply of housing.
