The Spanish Government is committed to reducing working hours

USPA NEWS - The celebration of May 1, International Labor Day, was celebrated throughout Spain with demonstrations called by the unions and, in those places where the sun was present, with people taking to the streets to enjoy the festive day. Noon was reserved for workers' demonstrations, in which the unions asked for full employment, the reduction of the working day - established in Spain at 40 hours per week - and an increase in salaries.

The largest demonstration was held in Madrid, with the presence of members of the Government and union leaders. Representing the Government were the Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, and the first vice president and Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero. Both agreed when promising that the Government will draft a law to reduce working hours. The response of the unions was immediate and the general secretaries of the General Union of Workers (UGT in its Spanish acronym), with socialist ideology; and the Workers' Commissions (CCOO in its Spanish acronym), of communist ideology, sent a message to the Prime Minister, the socialist Pedro Sánchez, ensuring that “it is worth it” to continue in office.

The general secretary of CCOO, Unai Sordo, asked for “work time with dignity and rights”, stressing that “we must flee from exploitation and put an end to employers' insubordination to collective agreements.” Sordo denounced the “political and media harassment of the Government and what the Government is not”, which “started ten years ago against the unions”, and defended that “it goes against the democratic state”.

For his part, the general secretary of UGT, Pepe Álvarez, pointed out that “we are here so that the right will rage. He doesn't like it when they don't insult him. This country has memory and knows who the executioners are. Don't let them come and whitewash Franco's regime and Franco. They are responsible for the 40 years of dictatorship”, in a new demonstration of the obsession that the left-wing leaders in Spain - most of whom did not live under Franco - have with the figure of the dictator Francisco Franco.

The demonstrations throughout Spain ended without incident and the day continued as another holiday for the millions of Spaniards who this May 1 did not have to get up early to go to work. Everyone remembered the five days of reflection that the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, took to decide that he will continue in office. Some, because they expected it; others, because they are aware of Sánchez's attachment to the presidential seat and never believed that he was going to resign or request a vote of confidence in Parliament.