The Royal Decree-Law on improving the conditions of domestic workers is approved

This week the Council of Ministers approved the Decree-Law for the improvement of working conditions and Social Security for people working in domestic service.

The new regulation aims to bring the working conditions and Social Security benefits of domestic workers into line with those of other employed workers in order to put an end to the historical discrimination against this feminised group.

Health and safety protection for family workers will also be guaranteed, equivalent to that of any other worker, which is essential not only to ensure the equality of conditions required by anti-discrimination legislation, but also to guarantee the constitutional right to health that corresponds to all people.

Not forgetting that coverage is provided in the area of wage guarantees for domestic workers in cases of insolvency or bankruptcy of the employers.

Unemployment protection

Domestic workers are no longer the only group of workers who lacked unemployment protection, despite the fact that most of them have part-time and intermittent employment relationships, often ending suddenly due to the death of their employers and with a special dismissal regime that allowed arbitrary and untimely dismissals without any kind of compensation.

Bonuses

From 1 October, contributions for unemployment and to the Wage Guarantee Fund (FOGASA) will be compulsory. In order to ensure that these contributions do not represent a financial burden for employers, they will be entitled to an 80% rebate on employers’ contributions to unemployment insurance.

On the other hand, the 20% reduction in the employer’s contribution to the contribution for common contingencies corresponding to this Special System is maintained. In addition, the bonus brackets above 20% will be increased, depending on the composition of the household and also on the levels of income and wealth, which will increase the number of beneficiaries.

End of withdrawal

From now on, the reasons for the termination of the contract with female employees will have to be proven, thus extending the protection against dismissal.

Occupational diseases

The regulation will also establish the commitment to create a study commission whose objective is the inclusion of the gender perspective in the list of illnesses so that the deficiencies that exist in the area of protection against occupational illnesses in work carried out mainly by women can be identified and corrected.

New deadline for transport subsidies

By means of this regulation, the Government has also opened a new period for local entities to adhere to the state aid programme to reduce the price of public transport for regular users by at least 30% until 31 December 2022.

If you have any questions regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone at Isabel Torre Carazo or by e-mail at itc@btsasociados.com, we will be delighted to help you.