The days go by and the unemployment benefit reform remains stuck. This increase in the aid that workers receive once the contributory benefit has been exhausted was overturned by Podemos in January in the Congress of Deputies, and is key for Spain to receive the entirety of the 10,000 million of the fourth payment of the recovery plan. However, although two formal meetings of the Ministry of Labor’s dialogue table with social agents have already been held, the perception is that there is no progress in sight, and it is not so much because of the disagreement with unions and employers. , but very especially, due to the lack of essential support in parliament.
This morning, CC.OO. has pointed out Podemos as one of the factors that slows down the process. The secretary of Public Policies of the union, Carlos Bravo, has revealed that they have already asked twice to meet with this political formation on this issue, and that they have not yet achieved it. “There is a fluid relationship, but the meeting does not take place, we cannot find a date to meet,” Bravo said at the presentation of the 2023 Labor Market Report, prepared by the union. On the other hand, with other political groups, there have been meetings. Bravo has insisted that the atmosphere is cordial, but that there is no progress and that it is not reasonable that the reform is stuck in parliamentary headquarters. “What is not acceptable is this parliamentary paralysis on an issue that affects so many people and in a situation of extreme precariousness,” said the unionist.
So far, the Government has not presented written proposals to the dialogue table, although it has expressed its willingness to improve the situation of workers with part-time contracts, and, according to CC.OO., also to maintain the contribution of those over 52 years of age at 125%, although linking it to the evolution of the unemployment rate. They are proposals that the union sees in the right direction, but that it cannot analyze until it has them concretized on paper.
This reform is one of the milestones that Spain must meet to pay the next payment of European funds, and it must do so before May 20, which is when the European Commission will examine the degree of compliance with the set objectives. Otherwise, you risk having to receive only a partial payment. This deadline already represents an extension of two months compared to the initial date, which has given the Government additional margin to resolve the issue, although at the moment there are no signs of progress. Today’s positioning of CC.OO., pointing to the lack of availability of Podemos on this issue, shows the difficulties that the reform will encounter in parliament.
