Collective Bargaining

The government announced a €200 billion package to help companies and protect workers and other vulnerable groups affected by the coronavirus crisis. The €200 billion come in addition to the €14 billion announced earlier and represent nearly 20% of Spain’s annual economic output. Workers will be entitled to unemployment benefits even if they have not paid enough in social security contributions. Those who become unemployed or lose their regular income will be able to postpone their monthly mortgage payments as well as their utility bills.

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The government adopted a financial package of €3.9 billion to support the domestic economy suffering from the spread of the coronavirus disease. The measures include deferral of payment of income and profit tax, and of social, and health and pension contributions by three months, with an option to be prolonged for a further three months. According to the government, the main purpose of the measures is to defer public contributions for taxpayers who are in difficulty.

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More than 100,000 Spanish workers face losing their jobs as the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic worsens, unions said. Large companies have sent tens of thousands of workers home under temporary layoff orders.

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The parliament’s legal committee approved a bill on the state of emergency measures to limit the spread and overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Labour Code changes will allow employers to force employees to take their paid leave during the state of emergency. When a company’s operations are suspended by government order, employees have to be paid no less than 50% of their net wages, but no less than 75% of the minimum wage.

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Workers at Amazon’s Piacenza warehouse went on strike saying that the company isn’t adhering to government rules on the containment of the coronavirus. The workers are protesting against the company’s reaction to two of their co-workers testing positive for coronavirus. Amazon said it is following local guidelines and implementing extra safety precautions.

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The government announced a series of unprecedented economic measures. The measures are designed to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods and to minimise the impact on self-employed persons, small and medium-sized enterprises and major companies. The measures will ensure that companies are able to pay their employees' wages, grant a bridging arrangement for self-employed and relief companies through relaxed tax provisions, allowances and supplemental lines of credit. A company that expects to lose at least 20% of its revenue may apply for an allowance that will enable it to pay its employees’ wages for three months, up to a maximum of 90% of the company's wage bill.

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The government unveiled a series of economic measures worth up to SEK 300 billion (€28 billion) to protect companies and workers from the fallout of the new coronavirus. The measures include amended rules for temporary lay-offs, under which the government would shoulder a bigger share of the pay for staff made temporarily redundant.

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The Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia (LBAS) calls on companies not to lay off large numbers of employees. LBAS says that companies should consult trade unions before making any decisions regarding firing, unpaid leave or short-time work.

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The Italian government unveiled a rescue plan worth €25 billion to shield families and businesses from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the “Italy Cure” rescue plan, €10 billion will be allocated “to support employment and workers”. Self-employed or seasonal workers can apply for a special payout of €600 in March and employees can claim time under quarantine as sick leave.

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The Labour Minister announced measures to support jobs, workers and vulnerable groups. The measures include granting leave to workers in the private sector who have to stay home to take care of their children, unemployment pay for workers of companies which have to suspend operations or suffer a 25% reduction in turnover due to coronavirus protection measures, sickness benefits, and remuneration for those who teach in the afternoon school of the Ministry of Education.

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