Authorities are moving to establish a structured framework for paid leave that would permit workers to take time off to accompany someone at risk of suicide. The plan, announced by a leader and deputy from Más País after meetings with the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security, aims to create a work permit that allows employees to pause their duties temporarily without losing pay, and without needing to request special leave or make a formal time adjustment with their employer.
In Spain, the total number of deaths reached 4,003 in 2021, a rise of 1.6% from 2020 (3,941), according to data from the National Institute of Statistics. This corresponds to roughly 11 suicides per day and a suicide rate of 8.44 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The measure is entering a technical phase and will require refinement by the ministry, negotiations with employers and unions, as well as collaboration with other relevant ministries, including Health. The aim is to move quickly, with the new benefit potentially ready before the current legislative session ends, though it remains contingent on legislative processes and policy design confirmed by the appropriate authorities.
Details regarding the paid leave remain to be finalized. It has been suggested that the mechanism could begin in the near term, with a process requiring a written determination that a person faces an explicit risk of suicide. This component would resemble temporary disability leave, granting the attendant a right to be away from work for one week, with a possible extension if a medical professional approves it.
Supporters have proposed that the accompanying person could be someone designated by the individual at risk of suicide. However, the precise requirements—such as kinship relations or other qualifying criteria—and the overall framework for funding are still under discussion. Advocates emphasize that the cost of the measure is low relative to its potential life-saving impact, arguing that having a trusted person with the at-risk individual can make a critical difference in preventing tragedy.
The initiative traces back to an earlier, less likely proposal submitted to Congress in February by Más País, which sought involvement in the pension reform negotiations that recently concluded. Social Security has signaled that this issue should follow its own policy development track due to the complexity of the negotiations. Any version of the policy would necessitate adjustments to the current contribution structure, whether by introducing a new category or by modifying existing ones, to ensure proper funding and administration of the leave.