The Diplomat
Spain will receive an additional €1.8 billion under REACT-EU to boost employment, healthcare and social inclusion, the European Commission’s Representation in Spain said yesterday.
“The funds will help protect employment through measures to reduce working time and help workers and jobseekers acquire the skills needed for a more digital and green economy,” the agency said in a statement, adding that “the funds will also strengthen the health sector and support Spain’s post-pandemic economic recovery.”
The new funding, managed under the European Social Fund (ESF), will support two national and six regional programs:
- The National Employment, Training and Education Program: €1.1 billion will be invested in working time reduction measures (“Expedientes de Regulación Temporal de Empleo”) to protect workers and companies and support the country’s recovery. These measures allow companies in economic difficulties to reduce the working time of their employees, while providing them with income for the hours not worked. These are labor flexibilization measures aimed at avoiding layoffs. REACT-EU support for this purpose amounts to EUR 2.2 billion in 2021 and 2022, and will benefit around 750,000 workers.
- The National Program for Social Inclusion and Social Economy: €260 million will help people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine by providing access to basic services, such as temporary shelter, food, water and medical care, education, employment, healthcare, etc. The funds will also be used to shelter and integrate the people fleeing, through investments in infrastructure, equipment and personnel. More than 100,000 people, including 30,000 children, are expected to benefit from this support.
- In Andalusia, 239 million will help maintain and create jobs through employment support for vulnerable people. The funding will strengthen the health and social care sectors and their capacities to provide care for COVID-19 patients, in particular through early detection of the virus. It will also support education in schools to prevent early school leaving and improve educational outcomes for students in difficulty.
- In the Canary Islands, 80.1 million will help mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting employment, particularly for young people, the self-employed and entrepreneurs. They will also promote skills development through vocational education and training. In addition, the funds will improve health and social services by training and hiring more staff.
- In Valencia, 59 million will mainly support vocational education and training programs. More than 33,000 people with difficulties in finding employment are expected to gain the skills needed to work in healthcare and other sectors.
- In Murcia, EUR 32.8 million will be used to recruit more than 240 healthcare professionals. Regional reception services will also be strengthened to assist host families and help thirty unaccompanied minors who fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- In the Balearic Islands, €30.2 million will support health services to fight the COVID-19 pandemic by recruiting additional medical staff, socio-health specialists, nurses, health technicians, caregivers, guards and others. Vocational education and training programs will help nearly 5,000 young people to obtain professional qualifications.
- The Autonomous Community of La Rioja will receive 2.4 million euros to help the unemployed access the labor market through career guidance, job creation and vocational training. The funds will also help hire more teachers and other staff for nearly 90 schools.
With the additional €1.8 billion adopted, Spain will receive a total of €14.5 billion under REACT-EU to boost the country’s recovery and facilitate investments in the green and digital transition.