Spain: hotel cleaning ladies organize themselves and establish the ‘Las Kellys’ association

Since the start of what is being hailed as one of Spain’s best tourist summers ever, female hotel cleaning room staff have criticized deteriorating working conditions, including excessively long working days, extremely intensive work rates, activities that are too challenging, precarious employment contracts, salaries being ratcheted downwards. Starting out life from a page on Facebook, the movement has developed into an association that is now staking its claims right in front of the hotel lobbies.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

These female workers believe they are scorned by their bosses and little heard by the trade unions. Hospitality cleaning staff have founded their own association to defend their own interests. They call themselves ‘Las Kellys’ as a short version of ‘Las que limpian’, (in Spanish those who clean). Las Kellys started life as a simple Facebook group with participants sharing their negative work experiences and frustrations. The group has since become an association thanks to those who decided they

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
Spain: already well on the way to pay transparency?
Spain is preparing for the implementation of its national law transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, which will take effect on 7 June 2026. The legislation marks another step forward in...
5 November 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
2
Germany: legal battle at Tesla ahead of works council election
The Frankfurt/Oder labour court has postponed a mid-November hearing in the case between the IG Metall union and Michaela Schmitz, employee representative and head of the works council at the...
3
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...
4
AI-driven job cuts on the rise in tech sector
As leading tech companies ramp up investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and roll out transformation plans to boost its development, layoffs across the sector are increasing. But are the job...
7 October 2025
5
France: generative AI and older workers central to BPCE’s skills management strategy
On 17 July 2025, BPCE and its trade unions signed a second agreement on jobs and career management within the banking group. The text places generative artificial intelligence at the core of its...
6
France: austerity measures proposed in social security financing bill for 2026
Limits on sick leave, the end of social security exemptions for apprentices, and the introduction of additional birth leave: the 2026 social security financing bill, presented to parliament on 14...
16 October 2025