Mercè García Millán, president of the CGS of the Balearic Islands: “We are all the School”
With a diploma in Labor Relations from the University of the Balearic Islands and a post-graduate expert in judicial practice, Mercè is a free practicing social graduate No. 559 of the Illustrious Official College of Social Graduates of the Balearic Islands, an entity that she has presided over since March 2024. Previously and since 2020, Mercè was the vice president of the College.
To begin with, how about you tell us the reasons why you decided to dedicate yourself to this branch of law.
When I was 17, I left school and started working in the offices of a company in the building and premises cleaning sector. Working in the company I had the opportunity to meet two social graduates. At that time it was an unknown profession for me. I was able to see the work they did in the management part (contracts, payroll, social security, etc.) and later accompany them when there was a labor inspection and the occasional trial, and I was encouraged to study the diploma. It was difficult to combine work and studies, but at the same time satisfying to be able to put into practice the knowledge that I was acquiring in my daily work.
Do you think that the role of the social graduate as an expert advisor in labor relations is sufficiently valued in society? What measures or initiatives do you think could improve its visibility and recognition?
Although we still have a lot of work to do, since the pandemic the group of social graduates has become more visible than ever. Society in general was aware that the group of social graduates was the one who managed the requests for inclusion of companies in the “ERTE's-Covid”, the collective requests for benefits of employed people, benefits for cessation of activity of self-employed people, etc.
The General Council has promoted the unification of the logo that identifies each and every one of the professional associations, as well as all the social graduates that make up them. For me it has been a great success.
To improve its visibility and recognition, campaigns could be carried out to raise awareness of the importance of having a social graduate who is an expert in labor relations and human resources, participate in forums and collaborate with other institutions.
Currently, what do your clients demand most? What are the biggest difficulties you encounter on a daily basis?
Social graduates advise both companies and individuals. Client demands may include inquiries about employment contracts, Social Security benefits, and other employment-related issues. The daily difficulties we encounter are related to the complexity of labor laws and the need to stay updated, which is why continuous training is very important.
What is the most rewarding experience you have had over the years?
After so many years there have been many gratifying experiences, although there have also been some unpleasant experiences. To highlight some of the human components that surround it, I remember the case of an elderly Argentine citizen, a single mother, who came to Spain to visit her only son. Once in Spain he suffered a heart attack. After completing the extension of stay, he requestedinitial temporary residence due to exceptional circumstances for humanitarian reasons due to a sudden illness that was denied. We presented an appeal for reconsideration and finally the requested residence was granted. For me it was very gratifying to be able to help this woman and her son.
What are the main ethical challenges that social graduates face in daily practice?
Social graduates can face ethical dilemmas when balancing the interests of companies and working people. Confidentiality, impartiality and integrity are key aspects. We must not forget at any time that our obligation is to comply with and enforce the Constitution and the entire Spanish legal system.
For several years you have combined your activity as a social graduate with that of the College. What has it meant to you to be part of the Governing Board since the beginning of your professional practice? What message would you like to share with other social and professional graduates who may be interested in becoming actively involved in their professional associations?
Being part of the Governing Board implies responsibility and opportunities to influence the profession. It is, as I say, being in the “trenches”.
The Board is the visible face of the College and the link with the different administrations, but the College is all of the social graduates who are part of it.
This is why I encourage you to participate in collegiate life. The College carries out many training actions and many important events such as, among others, the swearing-in of new members, the annual Trobada, the General Meeting, etc.
What has your appointment as president of the College meant to you and what has your experience been like so far?
Appointment as President is a significant achievement and an opportunity to lead and represent social graduates. The experience so far has been challenging, but also enriching. People who know me know that I am a close person and that I always try to help as much as I can. I hope and wish that this can continue to be this way.
What are the main objectives that you have set for your mandate and what is your strategy to achieve them?
One of the main objectives is to continue providing quality training. To this end, the Culture, Training and Universities Commission works tirelessly to plan training sessions, courses, work days, etc., with renowned speakers. As far as possible we try to ensure that the training we carry out is taught by social graduates. Likewise, we want to continue maintaining good institutional relations, but fighting for our right to digital disconnection and for our recognition as social collaborators.
To this end, from the Social Security Subcommittee we are going to continue holding the periodic meetings that we currently have with INSS and TGSS and we are going to extend them to SEPE and the Mutual Funds collaborating with Social Security.
We want to do our bit to achieve real equality in our society and for this we have created an Equality Commission. Another important challenge is the economy and budgets of the School. For this we are going toupdate the agreements and agreements that you currently have in order to increase income for both the College and the member. But not only update those already in force but also be able to reach new agreements with other commercial entities.
The Social Justice Foundation and the General Council of Social Graduates collaborate on initiatives to promote social justice. Could you explain how you collaborate with the Council on these types of initiatives?
In 2015, the “Fundació de Graduats Socials de les Illes Balears” was created. The Foundation provides a free legal-labor and equality guidance service. In addition, it is responsible for promoting training, research and teaching work, organizing conferences and seminars in different subjects and, on the other hand, promoting projects of a social and solidarity nature, aimed at those groups that need it most and thus promoting Social Justice.
Within the activities of the Social Justice Foundation in support of the training of the group, last March a conference was held at the headquarters of the General Council of Official Colleges of Social Graduates of Spain. The conference dealt with work adaptation after the declaration of permanent disability, by the judge of the TSJ of the Balearic Islands, Joan Agustí Maragall. During this event of great impact and follow-up, an exhaustive analysis of a case in Ibiza and its impact was carried out, referring to a CJEU ruling. This ruling represents a legislative change and significant progress in guaranteeing the rights of workers with disabilities. Would you like to highlight something about this day given the special collaboration on your part in it and the impact it has had?
The conference took place on March 20, 2024 and was moderated by our President at that time, Mrs. Apol·lònia Julià. I had the opportunity to follow it on zoom and the Ca Na Negreta case in Ibiza was indeed discussed in depth, as well asthe desirable and urgent regulatory reform of article 49.1.e) of the ET and probably also of 52.a) as Mr. Agustí pointed out.Following this conference, we held at our collegiate headquarters the training session "Permanent disability and reasonable adjustments, in accordance with the CJEU (Ca Na Negreta). Practical aspects", which was taught by Mr. Miguel Arenas, lawyer of the Col·lectiu Ronda, with great success in face-to-face and online participation.
How do you value the impact of globalization in the labor field and how does this affect your work as social graduates?
Economic globalization deeply affects the workplace since it causes more competition between companies and can cause the closure of some of them. Although our clients are mainly small and medium-sized companies and when we talk about globalization we all think of multinational companies, it is also true that it affects us in some cases. The difficulties we encounter are mainly with the framework in Social Security. We meet teleworkers from Spanish companies that work outside of Spain and vice versa, foreign companies with teleworkers in Spain. They are what we know as digital nomads.
And finally, what is your vision regarding the future of the profession in a context of constant legislative and technological changes?
In relation to the legislative changes, as I have already mentioned previously, everyone has to receive training, training and more training. In relation to technological changes, at the College we promote the application of these for their incorporation into the professional offices of social graduates. In particular, Artificial Intelligence in the field of labor consulting.
