Spain: government approves status of “cooperante”

The Spanish Government has recognised and ?dignified? the task of humanitarian workers and NGO staff abroad by approving the status of the ?cooperante? (voluntary workers). For co-operation to development to have a greater impact on the reduction of poverty and sufferance it was necessary to recognise the work done by voluntary workers, often under hard conditions. This was accomplished on the 28th of April through the approval of the status of the ?cooperante? by the Spanish government, from which more than 1,400 Spaniards working on a voluntary basis in 63 countries will benefit. The status will now consider the stay of doctors and other professionals in foreign countries as an added value in public tenders and will promote their labour reintegration. Before the depart to any foreign country, the status also requires an agreement to be signed which specifies the mission, place of destination and conditions, which is something very highly valued as before many professionals went abroad without having a clear idea of what they were going to be required to do. These professionals will now also be entitled to adequate training and information. But the most innovative measure is a collective public medical insurance all these workers will enjoy from now on.