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EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure ES-2020-14/617 Updated – measures in Spain

Extension of the extraordinary subsidy for lack of activity to domestic workers

Beneficiarios del subsidio extraordinario por falta de actividad para las personas integradas en el Sistema Especial de Empleados de Hogar del Régimen General de la Seguridad Social

Country Spain , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 31 March 2020 – 28 February 2022
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Income protection beyond short-time work
– Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme
Author Carlos Molina (UAB) and Jessica Durán (IKEI)
Measure added 15 April 2020 (updated 30 August 2022)

Background information

The objective of this measure is to grant domestic workers access to the extraordinary benefit for lack of activity.

The benefit is given to the group of domestic workers, that are especially vulnerable in the current circumstances, as that they do not have the right to unemployment benefit. For this reason, a temporary extraordinary subsidy was created from which they will be able to benefit in the absence of activity, the reduction in hours worked or the termination of the contract as a consequence of COVID-19. The amount of the subsidy will depend on the remuneration previously received, as well as the reduction in activity suffered, requiring proof of such reduction from the employer. This subsidy is compatible with the maintenance of other activities and the maximum amount to be received will be the minimum wage without extraordinary payments.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has triggered new situations of need linked to the lack of employment and has aggravated the situation in which previously unemployed people found themselves. Although the state system of unemployment benefits and also the welfare systems of the autonomous communities have served to respond to some of these situations, it is necessary to include new situations of need due to lack of employment generated by the current health crisis.

Content of measure

Those who who are registered in the Special System of Home Employees of the General Social Security Regime before the entry into force of Royal Decree 463/2020, of 14 March, will benefit form this extension.

Those eligible are individuals who find themselves in any of the following situations:

  • They have stopped providing services, totally or partially, on a temporary basis, in order to reduce the risk of contagion, for reasons beyond their control, in one or more homes and due to the health crisis of COVID-19.

  • Their employment contract has been terminated for the cause of dismissal contained in article 49.1.k of Royal Legislative Decree 2/2015, of 23 October, which approves the Consolidated Text of the Law on the Statute of Workers or for the withdrawal of the employer, in the terms provided for in article 11.3 of Royal Decree 1620/2011, of 14 November 14, which regulates the special employment relationship of the family home service, due to the crisis of the COVID-19.

The amount of the subsidy must not be higher than the Cross-industry Minimum Wage (€950 month).

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

27 October 2021

The measure has been extended multiple times, currently until 28 February 2022.

Use of measure

No data available at the moment.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Workers in non-standard forms of employment
Does not apply to businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

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

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Consulted Consulted
Form Direct consultation outside a formal body Direct consultation outside a formal body

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

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners were consulted about this policy in its design.

Views and reactions

Social partners were consulted and were supportive of this measure.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      T - Activities Of Households As Employers; Undifferentiated Goods- And Services-Producing Activities Of Households For Own Use T97 Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel
    • Occupation (ISCO level 2)
      Personal service workers

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Extension of the extraordinary subsidy for lack of activity to domestic workers, measure ES-2020-14/617 (measures in Spain), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/ES-2020-14_617.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.