Around 582,000 businesses and self-employed individuals benefited from targeted measures encouraged by the Consell de la Generalitat to counter the energy cost surge driven by the crisis in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the pandemic. This summary of action comes from Zulima Pérez, Director General of Social Dialogue Coordination, who framed the response in terms of continuity and balance across ongoing plans.
Pérez highlighted how the Consell coordinated with social and economic actors to reverse the combined impact of the two crises. She recalled that during the first wave of the pandemic the social dialogue framework enabled a swift response, supporting those most affected, including workers and self-employed individuals who faced ERTE routes, temporary business closures, or substantial reductions in activity.
The Generalitat is now prioritizing relief to curb the rise in energy costs. In this vein, more than 63,000 self-employed people in the Valencian Community are set to receive 300 euros from the Generalitat, a measure designed to ease hardships caused by inflation. The overall package totals over 19 million euros, representing a meaningful liquidity boost for households and small firms alike.
The climate and inflation responses are embedded in the Reactive Plan, a broad program with a 944 million euro budget. Its four axes focus on fighting inflation, distributing benefits to families, businesses and the self-employed, improving energy efficiency, and accelerating energy autonomy and resilience across the region.
Pérez noted that the initial pandemic relief reached 250,000 companies, employees, and self-employed workers, supported by an investment of 167 million euros. This rapid initial response laid the foundation for subsequent assistance efforts as the crisis persisted.
Following this first bloc of aid came the Resilience Plan, which has benefited 252,000 companies and self-employed workers to date, with investments of 500 million euros. The program remains expandable in line with the evolving pandemic situation, ensuring flexibility for future needs.
The Generalitat’s strategy has been to deploy a shock plan designed to support the sectors hit hardest by the crisis while addressing health restrictions. The package includes direct assistance to the self-employed and companies, ERTE workers, the nightlife and crafts sectors, regular transportation, and direct subsidized loans among other measures.
In addition to these efforts, the Resistir Plus initiative provides direct government aid through the COVID hotline, totaling 647 million euros. Its aim is to strengthen the solvency of self-employed workers and companies in the Valencian Community and to help reduce debt burdens. Resistir Plus has benefited 16,500 recipients, including firms and freelancers, with direct, outcome-focused assistance.
The success of social dialogue
From the outset, the Consell emphasized its commitment to supporting companies, workers, and the self-employed. Pérez underscored that ongoing social dialogue between the Generalitat and social and economic representatives has been the cornerstone of timely and urgent assistance in response to these twin crises.
Beyond immediate relief, the dialogue created a framework of stability that, according to Pérez, helped Valencia position itself as a hub for investment and growth. The region’s ability to attract capital and spur development is seen as a direct result of collaborative governance and steady, predictable support for the business community and workforce alike.