The Spanish government has reached an agreement with the unions UGT and CCOO on a draft law to reform unemployment protection. The proposed reform includes changes to benefits and subsidies, with the goal of increasing the number of protected groups and simplifying access to financial support.
However, the Ministry of Labor was unable to secure the support of CEOE and Cepyme for the proposed changes, as they had concerns about certain measures. In response, employers issued a joint statement expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of negotiation and economic report accompanying the reform. They accused the government of a lack of transparency in the process.
Despite these concerns, Yolanda Diaz, second vice president and Minister of Labor, emphasized that unemployment benefits are a right for workers, not just money. She reiterated that her department will continue to work towards improving unemployment protection in Spain and making benefits more accessible to all individuals.
The deadline for processing the draft bill is fast approaching, with May 20th set by the European Commission. However, there are concerns that failing to meet this deadline could result in a partial disbursement of European funds. As such, the government will have another six months to approve the reform in order to receive the full amount of funds.
Overall, this proposed reform aims to improve unemployment protection in Spain by making benefits more accessible and compatible with part-time work for a broader range of individuals.
