Sol Meliá employees are the company’s greatest asset, and that is why the greatest efforts are made to minimise work-related accidents and guarantee the health and safety of the workforce. As a company that operates in more than 30 countries, Health and Safety policies vary according to local legislation and the idiosyncrasies of each location, but in every case the company policy demands strict compliance with the law and the development of preventative measures for specific hazards detected in each area.

The diversity of regulations makes a standardised health and safety policy for all the company’s employees very difficult to implement. Each case has to adapt to the local situation in the country. In this report we can therefore only offer data on Spain. However, this information is still quite significant as it indicates the line followed by the company, and given that half of the hotels in the company portfolio are located in Spain. The rest of the employees are protected by other preventative services present in the country in which they are located.

The company has 6,767 workers registered under the responsibility of the Healthy and Safety Department in Spain. In 2008 the company registered 547 work-related accidents, which resulted in the loss of 10,401 days. The rate of absenteeism is 4.45%.

The Health and Safety Committee is a joint body whose aim is to advise the company regularly on hazard/risk prevention actions. In Spain a committee must be organised for every workplace with over 50 employees. It can have one or two preventative delegates and two or more company representatives. In workplaces with up to 30 employees, there is one delegate chosen by and from the personnel. In Spain, the percentage of the workforce represented by health and safety committees is around 93.04%.

In 2008, 38 health and safety training courses were carried out plus 54 first aid courses, 38 fire prevention courses, 66 chemical handling courses, 16 worker representative courses and 81 training courses for specific work positions.

Sol Meliá does not carry out specific education, training, consultative, prevention or risk control programmes for workers in relation to serious illnesses.

Strict compliance with the law, and in consequence with the recommendations of the International Labour Organisation, is carried out as required by law every four years with an external audit carried out by a company approved by local labour authorities.

Sol Meliá Spain has no formal agreements with trade unions.