The government awaits approval this Tuesday as ministers review a new employment bill intended to boost the efficiency of active policies for people seeking to enter the labor market, those who have lost jobs, or are at risk of losing work. This version, obtained by El Periódico de Catalunya, updates the text previously approved by the Executive Board last December. A key change is the lower age threshold for priority attention at employment agencies, extending access to active education programs from age 50 to 45 and strengthening protections against displacement or unemployment.
The proposals also raise the youth eligibility threshold from 25 to 30 for a program focused on high-demand job placements, which is a central concern for many. The latest draft also narrows the municipalities’ role, delays the final definition of the joint service portfolio for the unemployed in public employment services, and leaves room for future regulatory development of this law.
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The employment reform redraws the State Public Employment Service by restoring it to a new Spanish Employment Agency. It will move to Congress this Tuesday following input from regional governments, which are central to implementing active employment policies and engaging social actors over the past six months. The measure aligns with Spain’s commitments under the European Next Generation EU program, with an aim to enhance the efficiency of public employment services by the fourth quarter of this year. The reform envisions a centralized Single Employment Portal, transforming it into a public knowledge hub where companies and platforms register vacancies, allowing citizens to locate all job offers on one site.
The latest version clearly defines age-based priorities for attention in employment agencies. The youth threshold rises to 30, while it remains clear that certain groups receive prioritized support based on age, vulnerability, or special circumstances. The text also addresses protections for groups facing greater challenges, such as women, people who have experienced abuse, individuals with disabilities, those with non-normative gender identities, and foreigners.
The law remains subject to parliamentary review, opening room to adjust the definition of vulnerable groups as circumstances evolve, ensuring how groups are identified reflects the current socio-labor landscape. The drafting also clarifies criteria for what constitutes appropriate placement. Public employment services may offer positions that align with a worker’s education, qualifications, prior experience, job interests, and usual occupation, provided the placement is long-term and offers compensation at least equal to the industry standard and never below the national minimum wage.
Less power for municipalities
While most funding for active policies is overseen by the Ministry of Labor, autonomous communities administer occupation policies locally, and they supported changes in the text. This results in a reduced municipal role in shaping active employment policies and consolidates authority at the national level. The new framework designates city councils as collaborating partners rather than primary decision-makers within the National Employment System, which is reserved for the Spanish Employment Agency and regional public services. The approach opens doors for agreements with municipal organizations, universities, and chambers of commerce, with program goals and budgets set for up to four years.
A further distinction between the December Council of Ministers version and the current bill concerns the common portfolio of services for citizens. The latest wording leaves a precise list of rights to be defined by later regulation, rather than enumerating them upfront. The document notes that essential and universal rights in every employment service will be established through future regulatory updates, reflecting ongoing discussions and the need to tailor provisions to the evolving labor market conditions. [Source: El Periódico de Catalunya]