This practice, which has become a growing trend in the archipelago, represents a significant cost for workers and the local economy. The figures, extracted from microdata from the Active Population Survey (EPA) and adjusted for a 25% underreporting, reveal a worrying record in the region.
The phenomenon of unpaid overtime not only directly affects employees, who receive less than they are due, but also negatively impacts the Administration's tax collection and reduces the competitiveness of businesses operating legally. Fear of retaliation, such as dismissal, contributes to the silence of many workers.
Just by looking at last year's numbers, there are more than enough reasons to activate the alarm button, but observing the 50% increase in spurious money saved through these illicit practices over the last ten years calls for outcry.
Since the end of the Great Recession in 2015, the amount of unremunerated overtime has shown an upward trend, only interrupted by the sharp decline in economic activity during the 2020 health crisis. However, by 2023, the volume of these practices had returned to pre-pandemic levels and has continued to grow unchecked in subsequent years.
Although the problem is not exclusive to Canarias, which ranks eighth among Spanish autonomous communities, the value of unpaid overtime exceeds one hundred million euros in seven other regions. Contrary to popular belief, the tourism sector is not the most affected by this issue, according to a study by the CCOO union. Education, transport and storage, and manufacturing industry are among the sectors with the highest concentration of unpaid overtime.
