Gov’t projects rise in spending, budget deficit for 2020
Spain’s left-wing coalition government led by President Pedro Sánchez of the Socialist party announced Tuesday that it was increasing the spending ceiling…
Economy
Sharp uptick in Spain’s January unemployment figures
Spain’s jobless figure for the month of January increased by 2.8 percent for a total of 90,248 unemployed individuals, while worker affiliation…
Sánchez to Davos: social justice, growth must co-exist
Spanish President Pedro Sánchez put forward a contrarian message Wednesday to the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — that social…
Labour, employers agree 950€ monthly min wage
Representatives of Spain’s leading labour unions and employers’ federations have struck a compromise agreement to raise the benchmark monthly minimum wage by…
Gov’t greenlights 2% pay rise for public sector workers
The new coalition government’s weekly Consejo de Ministros cabinet meeting has approved an immediate 2 percent hike in salaries for public employees…
UGT leader calls for repeal of Rajoy-era labour ‘reforms’
► Pepe Álvarez welcomes Errejón’s ‘Más País’ to debate over labour legislation ► Leader sets end to “Gag Law”, workplace equality as…
Trade unions seek repeal of Rajoy-era labour ‘reforms’
Spain’s trade-union movement took to the streets Wednesday, marching in more than 70 cities nationwide and demanding that the next government dismantle…
Pensions enter elections debate as PSOE, PP trade barbs
The debate over the pending reform of Spain’s public pensions system hit the campaign trail at the weekend, after Spanish President Pedro…
Podemos sinks pensions reform initiative in Congress
A last-ditch effort prior to upcoming national elections in April to push through Congress reforms to Spain’s public pension system was torpedoed…
Budget defeated, all eyes on Sánchez for early elections
The Spanish government’s 2019 federal budget proposal was defeated in Congress on Wednesday by a vote of 191 to 158 with one…
PSOE shrugs off defeat, presses on with budget proposal
The minority Socialist party (PSOE) government of President Pedro Sánchez has vowed to press ahead with efforts to pass its 2019 budget,…
Gov’t, unions, owners agree to end coal mining this year
Spain’s government, miners’ unions and coal operators have inked a deal that will end coal mining in Spain before the new year…
Proposed budget deal includes social spending rise
President Pedro Sánchez of the Spanish Socialist party (PSOE) and Podemos General Secretary Pablo Iglesias signed an accord Thursday for increased social…
Congress gives nod to cost-of-living index for pensions
The congressional committee on public pensions reform has agreed in principle an all-party accord to modify the formula for calculating public retirement…
Labour, business leaders agree minimum wage rise
Leaders of Spanish labour and business federations on Monday signed a long-awaited accord that if confirmed by the membership of their respective…
Ombudsman: economic recovery fueling social demands
Spain’s Defensor del Pueblo ombudsman has sounded a warning to the government and Spain’s political parties that continued adherence to austerity policies…
Rajoy digs in, ties pensions rise to budget negotiations
After weeks of street protests across Spain to demand an increase in retirement pensions and a revamp of the way in which…
Unidos Podemos propose €24.5bn gov’t spending hike
► Plan eyes €11.5bn tax rise to combat social injustice, economic inequality ► In keeping with their roots in Spain’s 15M anti-austerity…
Bright jobs figures hide Spain’s temporary work problem
► 60% of workforce in temporary-contract jobs, can’t find full-time employment The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated Monday that while unemployment in…
PSOE wants to shore up pensions with new tax on banks
► Budget fixes, minimum wage hike part of plan to revert pensions deficit ► Pedro Sánchez, general secretary of Spain’s Socialist party…
PSOE says PP budget fails to fund gender violence pact
• PSOE’s Ángeles Álvarez slams ongoing PP cuts to fight against gender violence • Socialist Deputy says no funding earmarked for all-party…
Unidos Podemos, PSOE critize gov’t budget proposal
• Unidos Podemos slams ongoing ‘pillage’, PSOE says it will vote against budget • Save the Children says gov’t offers 10pct of…
CCOO’s Toxo pegs PSOE crisis to 2010 Zapatero cuts
• Socialist PM Zapatero’s austerity cuts angered voters, began slide in support • Labour leader fears PSOE crisis could trigger ‘long rightwing…
January employment figures buoyed by short-term contracts, unions say labour market still precarious
• Low increase in unemployed in January, but Spain’s jobless rate still 20.8% • Relatively positive unemployment figures for January released by…
Europe’s ‘Plan B’ anti-austerity campaign is headed for Madrid, gains support from Spanish Left leaders
• Leaders of Spanish Left sign onto pan-European anti-austerity campaign • Barcelona mayor and leader of the Barcelona en Comú activist platform…
Gov’t, unions worry about impact of Abengoa bankrupcty on Spanish economy, labour market
• Creditors say solar, wind powerhouse’s debt level exceeds 9 bn euros • Spanish renewables giant employs 7,000 in Spain and 28,000…
Spain’s slow economic recovery falls 25,000 jobs short of employment levels when Rajoy took office
• November jobless figures show year-on-year improvement • But, numbers still shy of replacing 1.5 mn jobs lost since Rajoy took office…
Labour force survey shows stagnating salaries and growing inequities, despite claims of recovery
• Spain’s wage gap between lowest, highest earners continues to grow • Nearly 3 million Spaniards earn less than €1,000 per month,…