Spain: a package of economic and employment support measures

On 17 March, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a decree law that will free up funds and make certain work-related legislation more flexible for this emergency period and ‘in a bid to protect and support families, employees, independent workers and businesses.’ The main thrust of the government’s measures is geared to supporting companies that avoid laying off workers by way of a series of provisions for lowering working time and boosting in-work flexibility, all with the aim of avoiding a situation whereby a temporary crisis has a permanent effect on the labor market.