Bill to restore labor rights and raise severance pay

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would reform the fixed-discontinuous (seasonal) contract: it would require a written form, regulate how workers are called back to work, and recognize seniority for the entire employment relationship, not just time actually worked.
2. It would restore wages pending trial and raise severance for unfair dismissal to 45 days of salary per year worked, capped at 42 monthly payments. Collective dismissals would carry 20 days per year of service.
3. It would again require authorization from the labor authority for collective dismissals, with a consultation period of at least 30 days (15 in small companies) and public review of the reasons the company gives.
4. It would limit opting out of collective agreements: only the wage rules could be set aside, after a consultation period, and never beyond the agreement's term or three years. Sectoral agreement conditions would become non-waivable minimums for company-level agreements.
5. It would strengthen the rights of people working for contractors or subcontractors: they must receive the same essential working conditions as if hired directly by the main company, which would also be liable for wage and Social Security debts.
6. The law would take effect three months after publication in the Official State Gazette, and the Government would have to make the necessary budget changes, mainly to pay wages pending trial that could be claimed from the State.

Who it affects

• Fixed-discontinuous (seasonal) workers, especially in seasonal activities: They would get written call-backs, a planned calendar, full seniority and priority in training.
• Dismissed workers: They would receive higher severance and recover wages pending trial.
• Companies: They would need administrative authorization for collective dismissals and would answer for their contractors.
• Worker representatives and unions: They would regain weight in negotiations over dismissals, changes to conditions and collective agreements.

Words worth knowing

Fijo-discontinuo (fixed-discontinuous contract)

A permanent contract for seasonal or intermittent work: the company calls the person in only when there is work.

Salarios de tramitación (wages pending trial)

Wages owed to the worker from the dismissal until a court ruling declares it unfair.

Despido colectivo (collective dismissal)

Termination of many contracts at once for economic, technical, organizational or production reasons.

Inaplicación salarial (opting out of a collective agreement)

When a company does not apply what the collective agreement says; here only on wages and with limits.

Empresa principal y contratista (main company and contractor)

The main company hires another company (contractor) to do work; that contractor's workers keep protected conditions.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries