Andalusia allocates 700,000 euros for silicosis worker retraining

The Regional Government of Andalusia has announced a 700,000 euro subsidy program to fund vocational retraining for individuals affected by silicosis. The initiative, published in the BOJA, aims to help both unemployed and employed workers acquire new professional skills through fully online training.

The funding is divided into two lines: 500,000 euros for unemployed individuals registered with the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE) and 200,000 euros for currently employed workers. To qualify, participants must have a recognized total permanent disability associated with silicosis or a formal diagnosis of the disease.

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, frequently affecting workers in construction, ceramics, stone material manufacturing, and metalworking. Between 2007 and 2023, more than 600 professional illness reports related to silicosis were officially recorded in Andalusia.