Escalating Work Absenteeism at SITVAL
The public company SITVAL, responsible for managing vehicle technical inspections in the Valencian Community, has launched a €140,000 tender to engage detective agencies. This initiative aims to investigate possible unjustified absenteeism, incompatible activities, or fraudulent situations within its workforce. The measure is primarily focused on addressing an escalating absenteeism issue that has worsened since the ITVs transitioned to public management in February 2023.
The Underlying Problem
Since the Ximo Puig Government reverted ITV services to the public sector, the average absenteeism rate in Valencian stations has soared to between 16% and 18%. This figure is significantly higher than the regional average of 6.4% and the national average of 7%. Consequently, the service has been heavily disrupted, with some heavy vehicles facing wait times exceeding eight weeks, as reported by the Valencian Federation of Transport and Logistics Entrepreneurs (FVET).
Role of Private Detectives
Published on October 27 on the Public Sector Contracting Platform, the new contract tasks detective agencies with observing and monitoring SITVAL personnel. These agencies are expected to compile documentary and audiovisual reports on employee absenteeism and may be required to testify before administrative or judicial authorities to corroborate their findings. The contract is divided into three segments, one for each province in Valencia, with an execution timeline of two years.
A Broader Context
The Valencian Generalitat is not alone in employing private investigators to monitor absenteeism in public ITVs. The Andalusian government initiated a similar program in August of the previous year, divided into two segments for its eastern and western regions.
Consequences of Increased Absenteeism
The reversal of the ITV service, particularly timely before the 2023 regional elections, has led to unintended consequences, including a significant drop in inspections. In 2024, approximately 291,662 vehicles opted to undergo inspections in other autonomous communities, such as Murcia or Castilla-La Mancha, reducing income compared to the previous year’s total of 2,332,087 inspections.
Impact on the Transportation Sector
The surge in absenteeism has prompted the FVET to announce the resignation of its president, Carlos Prades, from the SITVAL board. Prades criticized the inefficiency of the service, stating that “we pay more than in other communities for a less efficient, slower service that generates uncertainty.” He emphasized that ATI stations are increasingly becoming unviable for many companies.
Analyzing the Figures
The Puig administration defended the shift to public management by claiming it could yield up to €40 million annually for the Generalitat, compared to the €7 million collected by private operators. However, these projections seem to overlook factors such as the rising absenteeism rates, the decline in inspections, and the costs associated with the investigative contract.
In summary, the implementation of private detectives represents a controversial yet increasingly necessary response to an absenteeism crisis that threatens to undermine the efficiency and reliability of vehicle inspections in the Valencian Community.