The Government is preparing an extraordinary reinforcement of the ERTE for force majeure in Ceuta within the package of economic measures aimed at alleviating the effects of the crisis that the autonomous city is experiencing following the massive arrival of migrants at the end of July. Among the planned actions is to allow affected workers to access unemployment benefits without meeting the minimum contribution period and to raise the exemptions of contributions for companies covered by these files to 100%.
The measures have been reported by Cadena SER and confirmed by sources from the Ministry of Labor to elDiario.es. SER initially estimated the plan at 165 million euros, while Pedro Sánchez later announced that the extraordinary extension will reach 168 million euros, an amount also reported by Reuters.
The President of the Government stated this Monday that those 168 million are approximately 8% of Ceuta's GDP. The action will also include direct aid aimed at SMEs and self-employed workers to contribute to the recovery of the economic activity of the autonomous city.
ERTE with 100% exemptions on contributions
One of the main labor measures will be the reinforcement of the temporary employment regulation files for force majeure. The Ministry of Labor intends to facilitate their use by affected companies and increase the savings corresponding to social contributions.
According to sources from Yolanda Díaz's department cited by elDiario.es, the forecast is to raise the exemptions from the 90% established for the usual force majeure ERTE to 100% in the files linked to this extraordinary situation.
Cadena SER also reports that employers who resort to this mechanism may be exempt from 100% of the Social Security contributions corresponding to the workers included in these files.
Unemployment without requiring the minimum contribution period
The extraordinary protection will also reach employees affected by the ERTE. The Government's approach is to guarantee "full access" to unemployment benefits without requiring the minimum contribution usually required.
Labor also intends that receiving this benefit during the ERTE does not reduce the right to unemployment that the worker has previously generated. According to the information confirmed by the Ministry, the mechanism would be applied "without consumption of the unemployment benefit".
This is a reinforced protection that recovers characteristics used during the pandemic, when the conditions for access to unemployment were relaxed for workers included in temporary files derived from exceptional circumstances.
The hiring bonuses will rise from 50% to 75%
The package will also include an increase in the incentives aimed at promoting new hires. Labor expects to raise the hiring bonuses for workers from 50% to 75% that apply in these territories.
Pedro Sánchez announced during his interview this Monday on Cadena SER that these bonuses will also apply in Melilla, although this autonomous city has not been affected by the crisis at the end of July recorded in Ceuta.
The Ministry of Labor has not detailed yet whether the royal decree will incorporate other labor novelties. The department maintains that it continues to finalize a "set of specific actions for Ceuta aimed at protecting employment and supporting workers and businesses".
168 million additional for the economy of Ceuta
The package announced by Sánchez will finally amount to 168 million euros additional. Reuters confirms that the president has placed that amount at approximately 8% of the gross domestic product of Ceuta.
The new contribution will mean an extraordinary expansion of the special economic support plan that was already underway in the autonomous city. Sánchez has recalled that this program had mobilized 180 million euros between 2023 and 2026.
In addition to the measures related to ERTEs and labor bonuses, the Government plans to incorporate direct aid for SMEs and self-employed with the aim of boosting economic recovery after the impact that the crisis has had on the business activity of Ceuta.