Spanish Congress voted on Tuesday in favor of reforming the country’s labor laws.
The vote passed with 168 votes in favor, all from the governing Socialist Party. Eight deputies voted against the bill and there were 173 abstentions.
The reforms change regulations for hiring and firing, making it easier for troubled businesses to lay off staff. Spain has a 20 percent unemployment rate, the highest rate in the EU. The reforms are also aimed at increasing youth employment.
Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said the reforms will strengthen the credibility of the Spanish economy and put the country on a more productive path, according to the Spanish government’s website.
The abstainers are Spain’s largest opposition, Popular Party (PP), Catalan Nationalist Party (CIU), Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Navarrese People’s Union (UPN) and Canaries Coalition, according to the Spanish daily, ABC.
The reforms come in the wake significant austerity measures adopted last month to reduce the country’s budget deficit, currently over 11 percent GDP.
The vote passed with 168 votes in favor, all from the governing Socialist Party. Eight deputies voted against the bill and there were 173 abstentions.
The reforms change regulations for hiring and firing, making it easier for troubled businesses to lay off staff. Spain has a 20 percent unemployment rate, the highest rate in the EU. The reforms are also aimed at increasing youth employment.
Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said the reforms will strengthen the credibility of the Spanish economy and put the country on a more productive path, according to the Spanish government’s website.
The abstainers are Spain’s largest opposition, Popular Party (PP), Catalan Nationalist Party (CIU), Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Navarrese People’s Union (UPN) and Canaries Coalition, according to the Spanish daily, ABC.
The reforms come in the wake significant austerity measures adopted last month to reduce the country’s budget deficit, currently over 11 percent GDP.