Background information

In order to allow cooperatives to implement temporary collective dismissal procedures or reduced working time schemes, the government had introduced some flexibility in the formal requirements to adopt these decisions.

More specifically, when due to lack of adequate or sufficient means, the General Assembly of the cooperative cannot be called to hold it through virtual means, the Governing Council will assume the authority to approve the total or partial suspension of the provision of work for its members and partners and will issue the corresponding certification for processing, under the terms provided in articles 22 and 23 of Royal Decree-Law 8/2020, of March 17, of extraordinary urgent measures to face the economic and social impact of COVID-19 .

For more information on the temporary layoff scheme see the following cases:

• Exemption from payment of social contributions by companies in case of temporary collective dismissal or use of reduced working time schemes
• Unemployment benefit guarantee in case of temporary collective dismissal or reduced working time .
• Tripartite agreement to extend the special unemployment protection scheme associated to temporary collective redundancy or short-time work regulation .

Content of measure

Although the legal statutes had not provided for it, during the state of alarm period, the sessions of the governing and administrative bodies of cooperatives and the trustees of foundations may be held by videoconference or by multiple conference call, provided that all the members of the body have the necessary means, the secretary of the body recognizes their identity, and expresses it in the minutes, which they will immediately send to the email addresses of each one of the attendees. The same rule will be applied to the delegated committees and to the other mandatory or voluntary committees that it has constituted. The session will be understood to be held at the domicile of the legal entity.

When due to lack of adequate or sufficient means, the General Assembly of the cooperative cannot be called to hold it through virtual means, the Governing Council will assume the authority to approve the total or partial suspension of the provision of work for its members and partners and will issue the corresponding certification for processing, under the terms provided in articles 22 and 23 of Royal Decree-Law 8/2020, of March 17, of extraordinary urgent measures to face the economic and social impact of COVID-19 .

Use of measure

No data available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Other businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

No involvement of social partners was reported in the design, implementation or monitoring phases.

Views and reactions

No reactions to this measure have been observed.

Sources

• 27 March 2020: Royal Decree 9/2020 (www.boe.es)