SPAIN

As part of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) on 7 October, IndustriALL affiliate, the UGT staged some 40 demonstrations throughout Spain under the banner  "Employment, social protection and rights for a decent job".

The demonstrations exposed the fact that the economic recovery widely publicized by the government and business organizations, fails to reach the people. In Spain unemployment is an issue, 6 out of 10 workers are long-term unemployed. The newly created jobs are temporary, precarious and part-time, and the decrease of wages and incomes persists. Some 27.3 per cent of the population is at risk of poverty, a percentage that rises to almost 40 per cent amongst the unemployed.

The unions have taken advantage of this day to demand that the government launch a special plan for the long-term unemployed who receive no benefits, as pledged in an agreement with the social partners signed on 29 July.