Bill proposes job and social protections for wildfire victims

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would allow workers affected by the wildfires to suspend their employment contract and receive an extraordinary emergency benefit, similar to unemployment pay, in situations such as being unable to reach their home, having to clean or repair their housing, or caring for affected relatives.
2. The benefit would pay 70 % of the calculation base, last at most four months, require no minimum prior contributions, and would not use up contributions already made.
3. The paid leave for the death of a family member would be extended to up to five working days after the funeral when the death is related to the wildfires.
4. Self-employed workers who stop their activity because of the wildfires could claim the cessation-of-activity benefit without proving a minimum contribution period or force majeure, for up to four months.
5. Companies in affected municipalities with a temporary layoff plan (ERTE) could be fully exempt from their Social Security contributions for workers whose activity is suspended or reduced, from August to November 2026.
6. Court deadlines would be suspended from July 27 to 31, 2026 in seven affected judicial districts, and notaries and property registrars would offer free services to recover lost documents.

Who it affects

• Employees in municipalities affected by the wildfires: They could suspend their contract and receive the extraordinary benefit without losing job rights.
• Self-employed workers in the affected areas: They could receive the cessation-of-activity benefit without the usual contribution requirements.
• Companies in affected municipalities: They could request Social Security contribution exemptions if they have a temporary layoff plan (ERTE).
• People in the included judicial districts: Their court deadlines would be suspended and they would get free notarial and registry help.
• Public sector employees: The situations in Artículo 2 would count as force majeure to justify absences.

Words worth knowing

Prestación por emergencia extrema

An unemployment-like payment a worker would receive while their contract is suspended because of the wildfires.

ERTE (expediente de regulación temporal de empleo)

A Spanish procedure allowing a company to temporarily suspend or reduce its employees' work.

Cese de actividad

The situation of a self-employed worker who stops working, fully or partially, and can claim an unemployment-like benefit.

Plazos procesales

Court deadlines for legal steps such as filing lawsuits or appeals.

Prescripción y caducidad

Loss of the right to make a claim when too much time passes without exercising it.

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