A decree-law in the government's social Tuesdays

Spain's cabinet approved a royal decree-law at its Tuesday meeting on 20 October, the first package in a series the press calls 'social Tuesdays'. The measures target groups the government describes as vulnerable, including women who are victims of gender violence, widowers of unmarried couples and parents of children with serious illnesses. Sick leave is being extended for women with incapacitating menopause-related conditions and for gender violence victims whose injuries prevent them from working. The decree also equates incapacity benefit for people affected by disasters with the coverage given for workplace accidents, a change that was already applied after the dana in Valencia. The measures take effect immediately but must be confirmed by parliament within 30 days.

Government spokesperson and minister Elma Saiz defended the timing at her press conference after the meeting.

“The government continues to govern. The government has to keep responding to the challenges citizens are confronted with.”

Saiz also said that more than 10.5 million women are affiliated with Social Security, a figure she gave when explaining the sick leave changes.

Spending figures from one meeting

Press reports put the total approved at the 20 October meeting at more than 450 million euros. The largest item is 180 million euros in direct subsidies for regions that have declared stressed residential markets, alongside 45 million euros to create 2,000 university residence places. Another 150 million euros goes to compensation for victims of terrorism, and 45 million euros is earmarked for new Social Security benefits. Smaller allocations include almost 30 million euros for farmers and livestock keepers affected by wildfires, 1.3 million euros to protect women victims of gender violence in Ceuta and one million euros for maritime sector professionals. The total mixes one-off payments with the estimated annual cost of permanent measures, and Moncloa has not said how the new measures will be financed.

Subsidies for stressed residential areas180

Compensation for victims of terrorism150

University residence places (2,000)45

New Social Security benefits45

Protection for gender violence victims in Ceuta1.3

Maritime sector professionals1

Subsidies for stressed residential areas

180 million euros

Compensation for victims of terrorism

150 million euros

University residence places (2,000)

45 million euros

New Social Security benefits

45 million euros

Protection for gender violence victims in Ceuta

1.3 million euros

Maritime sector professionals

1 million euros

Data from the article text

Election context

Sánchez called early general elections on 5 October after a housing package from his minority government failed in parliament. The vote is set for 29 November, and the cabinet's social measures are being announced in the weeks before it. Reporting says at least six more Councils of Ministers are due before that date. Sánchez has asked every ministry for a list of pending measures that could be delivered quickly. The PP and Vox have accused the government of using cabinet decisions to win votes, and the government replies that approving decrees is legal and legitimate.

Criticism from a coalition partner and the electoral board

The PNV, a partner of the Socialists, has joined the criticism. Sources in the party said the new Social Security benefit package had more electoral purpose than conviction behind it. They recalled that in September the government had vetoed PNV amendments to the Dependency Law asking for similar measures, which they said could have been approved then. The party welcomed the approval but said it had pushed to extend the CUME benefit, which lets a parent reduce working hours to care for a child with cancer or another serious illness, for the whole legislature. Separately, the Junta Electoral Central opened a proceeding against Sánchez over a press conference held at the government seat after an earlier cabinet meeting, following a complaint from the PP that called it a PSOE rally. A sanction could mean a fine of between 300 and 3,000 euros.

Protests and what comes next

Saiz linked the cabinet's approach to protests over housing and to demonstrations by teachers and other education workers in the Madrid region, where the regional government is held by the PP. She said the government would keep working to advance rights and social protection while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

“This government hears the social outcry.”

The decree-law still needs parliamentary confirmation within 30 days of its approval, and the government has said it will continue this approach until the 29 November vote.