The Second Vice President of the Government and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, has announced that the Executive plans to prohibit dismissals for energy reasons given the rising cost of oil and gas. The measure will be part of a package of initiatives that the Government is preparing to address the economic and social impact derived from the conflict in the Middle East.
Díaz has asked for “calm” from the citizenry and has indicated that the Executive is working to approve these measures in the next Council of Ministers. As she explained in statements to TVE, the Government's response is being designed to mitigate the effects of the rising cost of energy on the economy and employment.
In the labor sphere, the minister has recalled that Spanish legislation already contemplates mechanisms to avoid dismissals, such as temporary employment regulation files (ERTE) or the RED Mechanism. In this regard, she has underlined that many of the necessary tools to protect employment “are already in force”.
“I want to send a message to companies. No one should be laid off”, Díaz has affirmed, who has insisted that companies have instruments to face the increase in energy costs without resorting to staff cuts. “The ERTEs and the RED Mechanism are already in force, we have the mechanisms so that we can accompany companies and they do not have to lay off anyone,” she added.
In addition, the Government is studying other social measures to cushion the impact of the energy crisis, such as the possible freezing of rents and evictions, despite the discrepancies on this matter between the two government parties, or changes in the taxation of diesel and gasoline to reduce costs for families and the most affected productive sectors.
