The Council of Ministers approves the envelope of 2.274 million euros announced yesterday by President Pedro Sánchez. The package includes changing workers’ status to include new paid leave to protect the right to take time off work in the event of a disaster. It is about “climatic” leave of up to four days of paid absence for the worker due to the inability to go to work following the outbreak of a disaster. The permit will be the responsibility of the company and will be renewable if circumstances continue to make transfer impossible. If after the deadline, the company still cannot count on its employee, it may benefit from an ERTE for force majeure. “We must take into account the importance of advancing prevention measures,” said Economy Minister Carlos Body. In total, the Government has approved measures amounting to more than 16.6 billion euros since November 5.
Added to this are the rest of the measures put forward yesterday by the head of the executive during his appearance at the Congress of Deputies. The Executive is once again weaving a battery of subsidized credit lines at zero interest to encourage the recovery of businesses and the self-employed. The main one will be equipped with 1.2 billion euros and will aim to return the industrial sector to normal. The loans will be intended for repair of financial facilitiesreplacement of equipment and actions of products lost due to flooding and to make new investments to adapt the industry. “It is intended to cover all the needs that businesses and freelancers may have,” insisted Corpo.
One line also stands out 300 million euros in subsidized loans for the SMEs concerned who wish acquire advanced technology and machinery. This mechanism will make it possible to raise up to six million euros per company under “very advantageous” conditions, as announced yesterday by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, during his appearance at the Congress of Deputies.
The plan reserves a large chapter for direct aid. This time, Moncloa will devote a good part of the amount to compensation for the loss or damage of vehicles flooded with mud. It will offer up to 10,000 euros per person concerned to help them purchase a new carwhether new or used for up to three years. The measure will be implemented retroactively from last October 29, so that all those who have already carried out the replacement of their vehicle will also be able to claim compensation, which will be complementary to others, such as those proposed by the Consortium of compensation. Sánchez recalled yesterday that the amount that will be deposited will not have to be returned. The measure will be endowed with 465 million.
In this section, a backup plan stands out 240 million reserved for the reactivation of local commercel with aid aimed at compensating material damage to damaged property in establishments. This measure is in addition to all those approved to date, aimed at restoring the economic fabric in the municipalities concerned.
The new package also expands the scope of assistance in the event of damage or death. All those who live with people who have lost their lives – up to 72,000 euros – and the relatives of those affected who saw their homes destroyed, can apply, with a maximum amount of 60,480 euros. The Government will advance 50% without having to wait for your file to be processed.
The validity of part of the labor shield created by Moncloa is also extended. The Government is extending until December 31 the exceptional consideration of a situation assimilated to a work accident for procedures for temporary disability and disability pension caused by the disaster. In the same way, compensation for cessation of self-employed activity will be extended to all those who benefit from the flat rate contribution rate; and a new regime will be approved for the activation of disaster protocols within companies.
The Executive has already started to analyze the progress of the resumption of activity in the affected areas. According to Body, the disaster caused this indicator to drop by six points in the province of Valencia compared to the rest of Spain. The passage of days and the deployment of the plan promoted by Moncloa have made it possible to begin a recovery which leaves Valencian activity “two or three points” below “normality”. Thanks to this monitoring, the Government will calibrate its action in the affected areas.
