REACT-EU: €1.8 billion to boost employment, healthcare and social inclusion in Spain

Spain will receive an additional €1.8 billion under REACT-EU to boost employment, healthcare and social inclusion. The funds will help maintain employment through short-time work measures, and support workers and jobseekers in acquiring the skills needed for a more digital and green economy. The funds will also reinforce the healthcare sector and support Spain’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

The new funding, managed under the European Social Fund (ESF), will support two national and six regional programmes:

• The national programme for employment, training and education: €1.1 billion will be invested in short-time work measures (‘Expedientes de Regulación Temporal de Empleo‘) to protect workers and businesses and support the country’s recovery. These measures allow businesses experiencing economic difficulties to reduce their employees’ working hours, whilst providing them with income for the hours not worked. This offers flexibility and avoids lay-offs. REACT-EU support for this totals €2.2 billion in 2021 and 2022 and will help almost 750,000 workers.
• The national programme for social inclusion and the social economy: €260 million will assist people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and give them access to basic services, such as temporary accommodation, food, water and medical care, education, employment, healthcare and more. Funds will also be used to host and integrate people that are fleeing through investments in infrastructure, equipment and staff. Over 100,000 people, including 30,000 children, are expected to benefit from this support.
• In Andalusia, €239 million will help maintain and create jobs through employment support for vulnerable people. The funding will reinforce the health and social care sectors and their capacities to provide care to COVID-19 patients, notably through early detection of the virus. It will also support teaching in educational centres to prevent early school leaving and improve educational results of students facing difficulties.

React-EU grants EUR 15.8 million to Spain to invest in skills and promote employment

• In the Canary Islands, €80.1 million will help mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting employment, in particular of young people, the self-employed and entrepreneurs. It will also promote skills development through vocational education and training. In addition, the funds will improve healthcare and social services by training and hiring more staff.
• In the region of Valencia, €59 million will mainly support vocational education and training programmes. Over 33,000 people facing difficulties in finding employment are expected to obtain the skills needed to work in healthcare and other sectors.
• In Murcia, €32.8 million will support the hiring of over 240 healthcare professionals. Regional foster care services will also be reinforced to help foster care families and assist 30 unaccompanied minors who fled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• In the Balearic Islands, €30.2 million will help health services fight the COVID-19 pandemic by recruiting more medical staff, socio-health specialists, nurses, health technicians, care workers, guards and others. Vocational education and training programmes will help nearly 5,000 young people obtain professional qualifications.
• The Rioja region will receive €2.4 million to help unemployed people access the labour market through career guidance, job creation and vocational training. The funds will also help recruit more teachers and other staff for almost 90 schools.

For further information: European Commission