Background information

Since the beginning of the pandemic crisis, the government has extended on several occasions the special unemployment protection system for furloughed workers (Temporary lay-off files, expedientes de regulación de empleo temporal). With the end of the State of Alarm, the government negotiated with social partners a new extension of this scheme as many companies face difficulties in returning to full capacity.

Content of measure

The agreement allows to extend the application of the flexibility measures that have been adopted since the beginning of the health crisis and in the terms provided in Royal Decree-Law 2/2021, of 26 January, and the extraordinary measures regarding exemptions in social security contributions by companies. It also extends the extraordinary measures in terms of unemployment protection for workers included in Royal Decree-Law 30/2020, of 29 September, on social measures in defence of employment and, finally, it extends all those complementary protection measures necessary to guarantee job stability, avoiding layoffs and job destruction.

The extraordinary measures contained in Royal Decree-Law 30/2020, of 29 September, related to terminations and dismissals, the interruption of the calculation of temporary contracts, the safeguarding of employment, as well as the limits related to the distribution of benefits / dividends will remain in force.

In addition, a list of ultra-protected sectors is included. These sectors and their value chain will have different exemptions in the cases of workers suspended from employment compared to those activated in a context of greater recovery than in previous months. With the aim of encouraging the activation of employment, on this occasion greater exemptions are included for the cases of workers who rejoin the activity: 95% for companies with less than 50 workers and 85% for those with 50 or more in the months of June, July, August and September.

The Royal Decree also includes the extension until 30 September of the set of benefits launched in March 2020 to alleviate the situation of the self-employed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and support the development of their activity.

Finally, it also includes the extension until 30 September of the set of benefits launched in March 2020 to alleviate the situation of the self-employed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and support the development of their activity.

Use of measure

No information available at the moment.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Applies to all workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social partners jointly	National funds

Social partners

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

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Direct consultation outside a formal body	Direct consultation outside a formal body

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners have negotiated all the extensions of the special temporary unemployment scheme since March 2020.

Views and reactions

Social partners agree this has been a key element in supporting businesses and protecting employment.

Sources

• 27 May 2021: Real Decreto-ley 11/2021, de 27 de mayo, sobre medidas urgentes para la defensa del empleo, la reactivación económica y la protección de los trabajadores autónomos (www.boe.es)