The Minister of Tourism and Employment, Jéssica de León, presented on Thursday in Fuerteventura the workplace accident statistics for the first half of 2026, which reflect a 6.7% decrease in the incidence rate in the Canaries and no fatal accidents on the island.
The island of Fuerteventura has achieved a milestone in workplace risk prevention during the first months of 2026: no worker has died in a workplace accident. This was confirmed on Thursday by the Minister of Tourism and Employment of the Government of the Canaries, Jéssica de León, during the annual meeting with business and union organizations held on the island.
According to data from the Canarian Institute of Labour Safety (ICASEL), between January and May 2026, 744 workplace accidents with leave were recorded in Fuerteventura. Of these, 742 were minor, two were serious, and none were fatal. The Minister highlighted that these figures represent a significant improvement compared to the previous year, especially concerning fatal accidents, one of the main objectives set by her department for 2026.
“The good news is that, across the Canaries, the incidence rate has decreased by 6.7%, so we have positive figures in this first half of the year and we hope this trend continues during the second half of the year,” said De León. The reduction in fatal accidents has been particularly relevant, especially those occurring in itinere, which, along with cardiovascular diseases, accounted for a significant portion of workplace fatalities in 2025.
The General Director of Labour, José Ramón Rodríguez, detailed that the evolution in Fuerteventura reflects a substantial improvement: “We have reduced the total number of workplace accidents by 47 compared to the same period in 2025, also recording two fewer serious accidents and, most importantly, no fatal accidents.” Rodríguez emphasized that reducing serious and fatal accidents is the main objective of the prevention policies promoted in collaboration with social agents.
The Minister assessed these figures in the context of employment growth on the island. “We must take into account that the employed population in Fuerteventura has also increased, that the number of employees and generated opportunities has risen, and that unemployment has decreased,” she explained. These results reinforce the commitment of the Government of the Canaries to workplace risk prevention, through specific actions aimed at the productive sectors of the island and awareness campaigns.
Among the initiatives planned for 2026 are technical advisory programs for the business fabric, specific actions in hospitality, construction, and commerce, workplace road safety campaigns to prevent in itinere accidents, as well as a line of subsidies aimed at promoting workplace risk prevention in companies.
For his part, the General Director of Labour also highlighted the work of the Labour Inspection on the island, where seven officials currently serve: three inspectors and four sub-inspectors. Between January and May 2026, they carried out 1,389 actions, of which only 202 resulted in sanctions. Rodríguez explained that this figure demonstrates the preventive and advisory nature of the body: “The Labour Inspection does not always impose sanctions; it also informs, advises, and helps companies improve safety and health conditions.”
The Minister concluded that the positive trend in Fuerteventura is an example of the good direction of prevention policies in the Canaries, and expressed hope that the second half of the year maintains these results. The next semi-annual report will be presented at the end of the year, once the data for all of 2026 is finalised.
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