Madrid Airport has hired a private security company to reduce the number of homeless people sleeping overnight at terminals. The move, which first came into effect on Wednesday evening (May 21), is an attempt to prevent travelers and workers from accessing, wandering or spending the night at airport facilities, airport operator Aena said.
Five entrances will remain open at terminals 1, 2, and 3, and 4 terminals 4 from 9pm to 5am. The new security will be deployed at the entry door. The plan was first announced a week ago, citing concerns about “anxiety and unhealthy” at Spanish airport, particularly terminal 4, which Anna has been complaining about since February.
Those who are not employees or do not have tickets or boarding passes are not permitted to stay. However, family and friends can still arrive despite the fact that there are no flight documents.
The union has already expressed concern about allowing private companies to fulfill their “removal” obligations.
The numerous homeless people sleeping at the airport have not been added for months up until now as officials at various levels of government continued to blame each other. However, new videos on social media and a news report on population have put the issue in the spotlight.
A recent survey by Caritas charity estimates that as many as 421 homeless people are sleeping in Terminal 4 alone. Many go to work during the day and go back to sleep every night.
Workers complain that biting insects have been invaded into the airport, with several employees providing photographic evidence of the bite. The complaints resulted in airport management calling pest control companies and fu steamed several areas of the airport, including corridors, furniture and luggage claims belts, to try to control the situation.
this The problem is not limited to Madrid. At Malaga Airport, staff members are said to have been bitten by fleas and bedbugs. However, authorities have denied this.
The Workers' Committee (CCO) union is calling for urgent action. that It publicly condemns the unsanitary conditions and lack of safety endured by workers at Malaga Airport due to the presence of homeless people.
“The airport is designed and equipped specifically for passenger traffic, so people are not prepared for people to live there. Local and local public agencies are aware of this reality and are working to improve the situation for homeless people,” Anna said in a statement.
