A conflict is escalating in Madrid over the change of operator for the region’s largest laboratory center, which serves more than a million residents. A week before management is handed over to the new contractor, Quirónsalud, the former operator Ribera Salud faced a demand to dismiss all 249 employees of the laboratory in San Sebastián de los Reyes. Quirónsalud plans to rehire only part of the staff, but without preserving their employment history or associated rights.
According to El País, Ribera Salud is categorically opposed to paying multi-million euro compensation for laying off staff and insists that Quirónsalud must hire the workers on their previous terms. As a result, employees have been left in limbo: their future depends on negotiations between the two largest private-public healthcare players in Madrid.
Operator change and risks for staff
From May 1, Quirónsalud will officially become the new operator of the laboratory, having won a five-year contract worth 120 million euros. However, the parties have yet to agree on the handover details, and regional authorities have not notified Ribera Salud of a final decision. Amidst this uncertainty, the laboratory staff is preparing to protest, fearing mass layoffs and the loss of all accrued rights.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Quirónsalud has already posted job openings for new positions and offered employees from its other laboratories to transfer to this center. This confirms the company’s intention not to fully retain the previous staff, but to form a new team, which will allow it to reduce labor costs and potential future severance payments.
Legal nuances and possible consequences
The issue of job retention when changing operators is regulated by both Spanish and European legislation, but the rules allow for different interpretations. If the collective agreement or tender conditions do not explicitly require the new contractor to take on the staff, the company may refuse automatic staff transfer. The Supreme Court of Spain has previously stated that if the new operator has its own resources, it is entitled not to retain the previous staff.
The UGT union warns: a complete change of personnel could lead to disruptions in the laboratory’s work and delays in processing tests for six regional hospitals. Employees are concerned that the transition period will drag on and the quality of medical services will suffer.
Context and importance of the laboratory
The laboratory center in San Sebastián de los Reyes was established in 2008 as part of a privatization program supported by regional authorities. It serves not only the local Infanta Sofía hospital, but also five other medical institutions across the north and south of Madrid. Over the years, Ribera Salud managed the laboratory under a temporary consortium format with various partners.
The transfer of the laboratory under the control of Quirónsalud became possible after a new bidding process, the results of which were published in April. The opposition in the Madrid parliament accuses the authorities of giving preferences to Quirónsalud, which already manages several major hospitals in the region. The question of the staff’s future remains unresolved and may only be settled in court if the parties do not reach a compromise.
