economy and politics

The Government approves the unemployment reform: the benefit will be compatible with a salary of up to 2,250 euros

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A person enters a SEPE office, on May 6, 2024, in Madrid (Spain). Social Security has gained an average of 199,538 contributors in April compared to the previous month (+0.95%), thanks to the boost from the hospitality industry, which added almost 92. – Eduardo Parra – Europa Press

The amount of unemployment benefit rises from 480 euros to 570 euros per month during the first six months of receipt

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Today the Council of Ministers approved the Royal Decree-Law reforming the unemployment assistance subsidy, thus fulfilling one of the milestones associated with the fourth payment of European funds.

The rule that came to light this Tuesday includes some new features with respect to the previous text regarding the compatibility regime of the contributory benefit with a job.

Thus, this can be made compatible with an employed job whose gross monthly salary does not exceed 375% of the Public Indicator of Income with Multiple Effects (Iprem), that is, 2,250 euros per month with the current Iprem, as they have transferred to Europe Press in government sources. In the previous text it was established that the benefit could be made compatible with a salary of up to 1,350 euros per month (225% of the Iprem).

The unemployment benefit will also be compatible with a salary. In both cases, this compatibility will be implemented through what is called ’employment support supplement’, which may be extended for a maximum period of 180 days.

In addition, the subsidy will be compatible with the receipt of a scholarship, as stated by the second vice president and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, in the press conference after the Council of Ministers.

This new compatibility regime will be accompanied by the establishment of control mechanisms through the signing of a collaboration agreement between the State Public Employment Service (SEPE) and the Labor Inspection to determine the cases of compatibility of unemployment and work benefits. employed persons who must be subject to inspection actions, all to avoid fraud.

The reform, agreed with CCOO and UGT and not signed by CEOE and Cepyme, contemplates an increase in sections of the amount of this aid, currently 480 euros per month (80% of the Iprem); It expands the group of beneficiaries, and will make it possible to make both the subsidy and the contributory unemployment benefit compatible with a salary, among other measures.

“Today workers win rights again and, by winning rights, democracy in our country expands,” declared the second vice president.

The head of Labor has highlighted that this reform is “deeply feminist” and “is not about a little pay, but about rights.” In this sense, she has defended that 80% of recipients of the subsidy do not exhaust this aid. “Not only is it not a small payment, but they are rights that the working people of our country have, who are paying to have exactly this level of protection. Therefore, we do not give anything away,” she explained.

The new reform simplifies the administrative procedures to access the subsidy, with the elimination of the waiting month for people who have exhausted their contributory benefit and want to apply for the subsidy. Thus, aid can be collected from the first day.

The contribution base for subsidies for those over 52 years of age is also maintained at 125% of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI), compared to the reduction introduced by the first reform and which led to Podemos’s rejection of it, considering that it They cut the amounts of the future pension. With this decision, the way is paved for the reform to receive approval in Parliament.

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT AND VICTIMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE

The reform improves the amounts of the subsidies during the first 12 months of receipt, establishing three sections: the subsidy will be 95% of the Iprem during the first six months of collection (570 euros per month with the current Iprem); 90% for the next six months (540 euros) and the current 80% for the rest of the duration of the benefit (480 euros).

Victims of gender or sexual violence from the age of 16 can now access the subsidy, as well as returned emigrants, children under 45 years of age without family responsibilities, and temporary agricultural workers from across the State).

In addition, workers residing in Morocco who have carried out their last employment relationship in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, covered by work authorization for cross-border workers, will be able to access unemployment protection at a contributory level without needing to prove residence in Spain. as long as they meet all the established requirements.

ELIMINATION OF PARTIAL SUBSIDIES: FULL SUBSIDIES WILL BE CHARGED

The reform eliminates partial subsidies for those who have worked part-time, being able to collect them in full, while it will allow people with less than 12 months of contributions (which are necessary to access a contributory benefit) to access the subsidy, a measure that It will fundamentally benefit young people.

Compliance with the requirement of insufficient income is also facilitated for people who access the subsidy, by allowing access both due to insufficient personal income and that of the family unit, alternatively, and coverage will be expanded by allowing access for married couples. made to the family unit.

Specifically, the calculation of income is modified in such a way that the applicant who exceeds 75% of the Minimum Interprofessional Salary (SMI) will not be excluded, but family responsibilities will be considered when the total income of the family unit between The number of people who form it, including the applicant, does not exceed 75% of the SMI.

At the same time, a compatibility regime is established between the agricultural subsidies of Andalusia and Extremadura with those of the General Regime and, additionally, a reduction in the actual working hours required to access the former is committed as a consequence of the drought.

The rule reduces to ten the number of days necessary for temporary agricultural workers included in the Special System for Agricultural Employed Workers to benefit from unemployment benefits.

The reform will also allow those who are receiving subsidies to exhaust their current benefits and, subsequently, join the Minimum Vital Income (IMV), a gateway from which victims of gender violence and returned emigrants will be excluded, who They will remain in the subsidy.

Likewise, it is introduced as a cause for suspension of the subsidy that permanent-discontinuous workers are called to restart their activity and do not return to their job, unless justified cause.

The reform also establishes a reserve mechanism for active employment policies for people over 52 years of age to allocate a part of the employment funds to this group, in the order of around 600 million euros.

Likewise, the benefit will be coordinated with a personalized employment activation itinerary with the signing of an activity agreement (previously known as an activity commitment) with the Public Employment Services, establishing the group of long-term unemployed as a priority for those job placement programs and actions.

ACCUMULATION OF THE BREASTFEEDING PERIOD

The royal decree also provides for the possibility of accumulating paid hours of absence for breastfeeding as a right, without the need, therefore, for it to be included in the collective agreement or in an agreement with the company.

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