Pending reforms aim to empower domestic workers to access salaries, unemployment benefits, and for companies to cover shipping and supplies. Interns will need to wait longer, as the Ministry of Labor faces delays in meeting deadlines. Both files were closed before August, and approval for the measures is now being pushed to September, as announced by the Employment Minister in a recent press briefing.
To justify the postponement of regulatory changes for domestic workers, officials argued that a new round of technical regulations must be aligned with the design of a refreshed benefits and contributions system. Until now, this group could not contribute to unemployment benefits even if they wanted to. A February veto by the European judiciary raised concerns about discrimination, prompting a series of rulings from Spanish courts that recognized previously denied rights for domestic workers, such as access to subsidies for those over 52 and eligibility for Fogasa in cases of dismissal.
To comply with the European decision, the government must adjust the social assistance framework and the Social Security system, with changes expected to wait until August 24, when the next Cabinet session is scheduled. Even so, the secretary of state did not rule out that ratification of the royal decree, along with the associated changes, could occur in September. Presently, 375,932 domestic workers registered with Social Security stand to benefit from these reforms. The broader impact on employers and the cost structure remains a focal point of discussion among managers and policymakers alike.
Employer moves away from interns’ contract
On the other reform—the Academic Charter—negotiations are hampered by disagreements with business leaders. El Periódico de Catalunya, a newspaper from the Prensa Ibérica group, reported that the final draft reviewed by the Department of Labor differed from a version that previously won the support of major trade unions. This Tuesday the Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted remaining gaps in the document and opened the possibility of pursuing reform without full backing from employers. He noted that if employers view education as a cost-cutting lever, finding common ground would be tougher.
The principal aim of the new charter is to require companies to cover transportation and material costs for their scholars, either directly or through a compensatory payment. At the same time, the plan seeks to phase out the role of extracurricular programs, which critics say are prone to misuse. Starting January 2025, such programs would be eliminated. Students would need to participate in internships that are part of their study plan or enter formal training and apprenticeship contracts, aligning practical experience with formal education and reducing opportunities for exploitation.