In the wake of the latest unemployment figures, alarming economic forecasts and pressure from the EU for more austerity measures, the government of Mariano Rajoy is proposing new economic reforms but has ruled out another rise in income tax or VAT this week. Next week is another matter altogether.
IMF expects recession to deepen
The IMF on Tuesday predicted that the Spanish economy would continue to struggle this year, with the recession deepening and unemployment rising to a record level level of 27 percent.
Proposal to raise the minimum marrying age
It is reported that the government is proposing to amend the Civil Code to increase the minimum marrying age from 14 to 16 years.
Number of self-employed down by 0.6% in the first quarter
The number of self-employed in Spain fell during the first quarter of 2013 from 3,024,652 at the end of December 2012 to 3,005,396 at the end of March 2013. This equates to a 0.6% decline in numbers.
Youth unemployment
The number of people under the age of 25 years who have left the labour market since the beginning of the financial crisis in Spain in 2007 has been put at 864,100. The figures are in a report by the employment management company Asempleo.
A new Payment Plan proposed
The Minister of Finance and Public Administration, Cristóbal Montoro, has announced a new payment plan for 2013 but this time linked to an obligation for public authorities to pay suppliers within thirty days. Not before time.
Weather alerts for April 3rd 2013
The provinces of Huelva, Sevilla and Cádiz are on ‘yellow’ alert for rains today, Wednesday. High winds are expected on El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife and La Palma and coastal storms and rough seas are forecast for Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife.
Cost of electricity down by 6.62% as from April 1st
The cost of the Tariff of Last Resort (TUR) for electricity goes down by 6.62% as from Monday April 1st, the first decrease since the tariff was introduced in 2009. The TUR is the rate used in most homes and in some small businesses and is where the contracted capacity is less than 10 kilowatts.
The Easter rush continues
Yet more dinghies carrying migrants have been intercepted by Maritime Rescue vessels, a total of 22 travelling in three small boats. The passengers have been taken to the port of Tarifa, Cádiz province, early on Wednesday morning.
Easter in Spain
Spain is slowly drifting towards a secular society, with many young people largely ignoring their Roman Catholic heritage, but Semana Santa, Holy Week, is still very much celebrated throughout the country. The ancient rituals, celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, are a sight not to be missed. Often to the solemn, persistent beat of a single drum, men …