A situation that, he warned, is causing Zaragoza Activa to lose the capacity to develop new entrepreneurship policies, support the self-employed and local businesses, and promote innovation and the creative economy. Specifically, Ortiz denounced that there are currently two C1-22 Technical Assistant Sociocultural positions. One of the people occupying them will retire on December 31, 2026, and there is no guarantee that the vacancy will be filled.
As for mid-level sociocultural technicians, two positions were transferred to other municipal services following selection processes, despite Zaragoza Activa having stated that it needed an A2 mid-level sociocultural technician. In addition, of the six maintenance officers the service once had, there are currently two General Maintenance Officer positions: one is vacant and the other will become available through internal promotion. Both would ultimately be assigned to District 7, according to information conveyed to the Socialist Group.
STAFF SHORTAGES
For Guillermo Ortiz, the staff shortage also affects work organisation and the service’s planning capacity. The report prepared by the Unit’s own management reflects a significant difference between the time that should be devoted to the various functions and the time actually spent on them.
According to the document, managing grants and subsidies should account for approximately 25% of working time, but exceeds 75%. By contrast, strategic planning, which should take up around 25%, accounts for 15%; team management rises from the planned 20% to barely 5%; and participation in networks and institutional representation, which should account for around 5%, are practically non-existent.
The excessive workload also has a direct impact on staff working conditions. Between June 2025 and May 2026, Zaragoza Activa’s management accumulated 166 hours and 37 minutes of overtime, according to the service’s report. In addition, a total of 17 days of leave from 2025 that could not be taken due to the service’s needs had to be carried over to 2026. The same report states that approximately 35% of the overtime received neither financial compensation nor compensatory rest.
CARLOS GIMENO’S RESPONSE
The response from the councillor for Economy, Digital Transformation and Transparency, Carlos Gimeno, was not long in coming. "He chose the worst day because many measures have been implemented for some time, and the latest was to strengthen the staff with a Mid-Level Management Technician," he said. On that very day, a new member joined the team with the appointment of a Mid-Level Management Technician.
Gimeno also recalled that Zaragoza Activa’s workload had been eased because, since 2026, the call for competitiveness grants has been managed by another service within the Economy Department. "We wanted Zaragoza Activa to focus on supporting entrepreneurs," he stressed.
Finally, regarding the reduction in maintenance officer positions, he explained that they had been necessary when Zaragoza Activa was located at La Azucarera. They are now based at Etopia, a facility shared with other services that already had its own maintenance officers.
