Better family leave rights and reformed unemployment benefits

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The breastfeeding leave becomes one hour off work per day until the baby turns nine months old. It can be split into two parts, replaced by a half-hour reduction of the workday, or accumulated into full days. If both parents take it on the same terms, it can extend until the baby turns twelve months.
2. Collective agreements negotiated in an autonomous community can take precedence over state-wide sector agreements, as long as they are more favorable to workers and have the support of the majorities required to form the negotiating committee.
3. Performing, audiovisual and musical artists, and the technical and auxiliary staff in those fields, can vote in workplace representative elections from age sixteen and stand as candidates from age eighteen, with only twenty days of seniority at the company.
4. The means-tested level of unemployment protection (the subsidies) is reformed: coverage expands to people under 45 without family responsibilities who have used up a 360-day benefit, to those with less than six months of contributions, and to seasonal farm workers. The one-month waiting period after the regular benefit ends is removed.
5. Subsidy amounts now decrease over time: 95% of the public income reference index for the first 180 days, 90% up to day 360, and 80% after that. The subsidy is granted in three-month periods, renewed through a sworn statement of income for the previous month.
6. The subsidy becomes generally compatible with paid employment through an employment support supplement, capped at 180 days, and also with attending training programs or academic internships.
7. People who must return benefits received by mistake can ask to pay in installments (up to five years) or to offset the debt partially against a new benefit, instead of losing the whole new benefit.
8. The rule takes effect the day after publication, but most of the subsidy reform takes effect on June 1, 2024. Subsidies already granted before that date remain governed by the previous rules until they end.

Who it affects

• Families with babies: The breastfeeding leave and how it can be taken change.
• Unemployed people receiving subsidies: Subsidies have new requirements, decreasing amounts and quarterly renewals.
• Seasonal farm workers: Their unemployment protection is unified with the general system and previous restrictions are removed.
• People who must return benefits received by mistake: They can pay back debts in installments or through partial offsetting.
• Artists and technical staff in the performing arts: Special rules let them vote and stand in workplace representative elections.

Words worth knowing

Nivel asistencial

The means-tested part of unemployment protection (the subsidies), available without enough contributions for the regular benefit.

Prestación contributiva

The regular unemployment benefit, based on having contributed while working.

Salario mínimo interprofesional

The minimum wage that Spanish law allows employers to pay.

Acuerdo de actividad

A commitment signed with public employment services that includes actively looking for work and joining employment programs.

Indicador público de rentas de efectos múltiples (IPREM)

A reference amount set by the State, used to calculate benefits and aid.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries