A Health Study to Amplify the Voices of Housekeepers on the Balearic Islands

The study focuses on female housekeepers’ working and health conditions across the four islands

What does it consist of?

Over a thousand hotel housekeepers from across the islands have taken part in a clinical study funded by sustainable tourism tax (ITS). The initiative aims to identify and address the physical and mental health issues arising from their work, through a study at the primary care level.

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Data

PROJECT TITLE IN THE CALL
Catering staff: Housekeepers and health
LOCATION
Mallorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera
Entity submitting the PROJECT
Govern de les Illes Balears
Entity that executes the project
Servei de Salut de les Illes Balears (IB-SALUT)
Project code
ITS2017-096
Total project amount
1.273.909 €
ITS granted amount
897.589 €
Executed amount
871.008 €
Call year
2017
Execution status
Executed
Purpose
Training and Quality
Budget execution
Executed: 97.04%
Last data request
04.03.2025

The project

The ‘Housekeeping Staff and Health’ project is based on a clear observation: the working conditions of staff who clean guest rooms in the Balearic Islands’ tourism industry are affecting their physical and mental wellbeing. Commissioned by the Health Service and funded by ITS, the study has been running for three years in health centres across Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.

The work is divided into four phases, ranging from a literature review to an extended clinical trial. Over 1,000 female workers have taken part in surveys, and interviews have been held with key insiders in the industry. Focus groups comprising the housekeepers themselves have also taken place. The aim was to understand the daily reality of this group and to design a practical intervention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders, reduce reliance on medication and improve quality of life.

Initiatives have been implemented across three levels: individually, through personalised healthcare; in groups, through workshops on health and lifestyle habits; and at the community level, by promoting support networks and physical activity. A practice guide has also been created for primary care professionals, and an information session has been organised to share the results and lessons learnt.

Beyond the healthcare sector, the project has served to highlight a structural problem within the tourism model. The health of housekeepers—known on the islands as ‘kellys’—is yet another issue of social justice. This was underlined by the authorities when presenting the study: ‘They play a key role in generating revenue. It’s only fair that they get something in return.’