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Consell allows flexible hours and remote work, plus mandates minimum admin services in view of health crisis

Considering the state of alarm generated by the Covid-19 health crisis, the Consell de Formentera has issued a decree concerning organisation of work and services.

The order, signed yesterday by Consell chief Alejandra Ferrer, calls on government staff to forego all non-essential travel and prioritise employee safety. Department heads are to make arrangements so staff can work from home or remotely; guarantee the provision of minimum services, and maintain positions that pose no risk to staff and are key to service provision.

To help employees balance private and professional obligations, flexible scheduling and virtual work arrangements are to allowed whenever possible. The decree likewise dictates that minimum levels shall apply to the following municipal services: Citizen Information Office (OAC); Secretariat; Accounting; New Technologies; Treasury; Department of Human Resources; Department of Social Services: social workers, family workers, at-home care; Department of Public Safety: Firefighters and Local Police; public lighting; funeral services; cemetery; cleaning brigade; abattoir and animal pound.

Those workers who must remain at home are reminded of their ineligibility for customary holiday leave, personal time and hourly pay. Employees shall stay at home if their functions are declared temporarily unnecessary or are incompatible with virtual work arrangements, though such individuals must remain available should their services be required.

Given the unusual state of things, support and understanding is asked of everyone in light of the changes potentially made necessary by the new organisational scheme for government staff and services.

Department of Human Resources chief Paula Ferrer welcomed the “collaboration and commitment of staff as emergency measures are activated in light of the health crisis” and urged everyone to comply with health protocol. “If we’re going to keep the local government functioning these minimum services are essential”, she said.

18 March 2020
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera

Formentera port closed to all but health workers

Formentera’s port will close from Thursday 19 March. The three remaining passenger crossings connecting Eivissa and Formentera will be devoted chiefly to “transporting health workers staff and emergency response personnel to the island”, explained Consell president Alejandra Ferrer.

A Saturday decree mandated the implementation of minimum services, meaning 10 just daily journeys in each direction, but the Consell de Formentera has worked with the regional and central governments to reduce the frequency further still, trimming the number of daily trips to three in each direction.

In fact, the central government is set to adopt a new regulation today that will pare down connections not just between mainland Spain and the Balearics, but for inter-island travel as well. Ferrer pointed out that “in Palma, too, the regional government is expected to adopt a resolution that accommodates travel for health workers — something Formentera has been asking for all along so we could close our port”.

33% capacity
Mobility chief Rafael González indicated that under the new scheme Formentera-bound ferries would set out from Eivissa at 7.00am, 1.00pm and 7.00pm, with return trips at 9.00am, 3.00pm and 9.00pm. In order to respect the two-metre safe distance between individuals, ships must not exceed 33% of normal capacity, and the Guardia Civil will screen all boarding passengers to ensure they have a valid reason for travelling as per the state of alarm.

Guaranteeing supplies
González pointed out that the new restriction would not affect the freight vessels essential to keeping the island stocked. “There are never passengers aboard these watercraft; just goods”, said the conseller, who added that priority was being given for transport of basic essentials. He said the passenger ferry timetable was mainly designed “so healthcare professionals who work on Formentera but live on Eivissa can come to work and go home to sleep if they so choose”.

Meanwhile, the local government has teamed up with Formentera’s small and medium-sized business group, Pimef, the Chamber of Commerce, Formentera Hoteliers’ Group and Formentera Hospital to temporarily free up apartments and lodging for healthcare workers coming every day from Eivissa, the goal being to make things easier for such professionals in order to guarantee hospital coverage during the current health scare.

“The aim of this newest precautionary measure is to filter access to the island”, offered President Ferrer. “It was done at the request of islanders and local business owners to protect the island’s inhabitants from this health crisis.” Once again she conveyed a message of thanks “to the entire island of Formentera, to the emergency response and healthcare professionals, and to our local business community; everyone has done an exemplary job of things”.

17 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Consell teams up with Pimef and Chamber of Commerce to enact safety protocol at local businesses

cartell 2020 covid comercosThe Consell de Formentera reminds islanders and businesses still in operation of the importance of respecting safety measures in view of the current health scare. Posters printed by the Consell and currently being distributed to members of Pimef and the Chamber of Commerce remind business owners of basic measures in hygiene, store management and recommended distance between clients.

17 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Presidential decree on administrative and organisational measures by the Consell de Formentera following the declaration of state of alarm in view of the COVID-19 health crisis

With this decree, signed today by Alejandra Ferrer, president of the Consell de Formentera, all legal action to which the island government is party are hereby suspended, excepting those involving the safety of minors or violence against women. Administrative action is suspended as well, save for extremely urgent measures.

Furthermore, plenary gatherings and meetings of spokespersons’, advisory and government committees will halt as well.

Restored to the office of the president are those functions delegated to the government committee last July, while the officer of the president’s office, tax office and general services retains the economic competences delegated to him at the same time.

As a general rule and with a view toward forestalling visits of any kind to local government facilities, electronic and telephone communications are the preferred method of contact between the public and the administration. This likewise applies for administration officials.

As for government personnel, and considering a substantial portion of staff live on Eivissa, a specific decree to follow will provide general details on virtual work arrangements, to the extent possible in each service.

Let it be additionally known that any public government procurement of services relative to preventive healthcare or related areas is in full accordance with the Royal Decree of state of alarm, and is to be considered emergency contracting.


16 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

Entry checks begin on island in compliance with state of alarm

foto 2020 control portThe Guardia Civil began controlling new arrivals to Formentera today, with two agents posted near the exit ramp checking that people coming to the island were doing so in compliance with the restrictions included in the State of Alarm. The proclamation prohibits entry to all but those with a job or home on the island and expressly bans leisure travel, such as by tourists.

The island’s president applauded the latest precautionary and containment-oriented measure in response to Covid-19, pointing out that the step had been taken the request of local government. “This is something our inhabitants and business owners have been pleading for”, said Alejandra Ferrer. “Based on the State of Alarm proclamation, we can begin protecting our people by filtering access to the island given the current health crisis”.

Ferry operators have been providing minimum services between Formentera and Eivissa since Saturday to assure the arrival of goods, though all but essential travel remains prohibited. Under the current scaled back service, ten daily journeys happen in each direction and controls are performed, but the Consell de Formentera and Govern balear are in talks to reduce the frequency further still.

Logging data
Last Friday the Consell de Formentera began keeping a register of the individuals who have arrived on the island in recent days. It also issued an appeal to new arrivals to contact the island’s government by calling 971321087 to provide personal information. The Consell furnished the coronavirus safety protocol and stated it would monitor individuals as well as offer any necessary help. To date 138 recently arrivals from at-risk areas have arrived on the island and contacted the Consell.

Yesterday ferry operators began distributing a questionnaire put together by the Consell to all travellers, ensuring their details could be recorded and preventive measures, protocol and imperatives included in the State of Alarm could be explained before they disembarked. The information collected will also be shared with the relevant health authorities so each case can be monitored.

On behalf of the entire team of cabinet councillors, President Ferrer thanked the people of Formentera for their responsibility and commitment. “To the businesses that closed, and to those still open and providing basic necessities; to the security forces who are enforcing the imperatives of these unusual circumstances; to the workers who are so understandingly adapting their timetables and tasks; to those working from home; of course, to the health workers on the front lines; to all the youth, young children, families and elderly who are staying home. Thanks to the individual commitment of islanders and the collective effort that Formentera has always been so good at, we look forward to getting back to normal soon. Thank you all.

16 March 2020
Department of Communications
Consell de Formentera

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