The Government of Spain completes the reform of professional training with the regulation of training contracts

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Ministers Pilar Alegría, Yolanda Díaz, Félix Bolaños and Ángel Víctor Torres, during the press conference (Pool Moncloa/José Manuel Álvarez)

The Council of Ministers has developed the framework for training contracts, established in Article 11 of the Workers' Statute, to adapt it to the 2022 labour reform.

The Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, stressed that this regulation guarantees quality training in Spain and combats abusive practices in this area. Furthermore, the regulation completes the comprehensive reform of employment training, following the new legislation on Vocational Training (FP) approved in recent years and the recent impetus given to the Law on the Statute of Persons in Non-Work-Based Practical Training (the so-called "Trainee Statute").

Employment rights and talent retention

The trainee contract comprises two modalities, both of an employment nature and, therefore, endowed with the corresponding rights and guarantees. The first is the work-study programme, aimed at individuals who are undertaking Vocational Training, university studies, or training through the National Employment System and who complete part of their training programme in companies. The second is the contract for obtaining professional experience appropriate to the corresponding level of studies-commonly known as an "internship"-which allows those who have obtained a university degree or a vocational training qualification or certificate to gain experience

The Minister for Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/José Manuel Álvarez

"This complies with the modern, European-style training model", stated Yolanda Díaz. "It is the best way to modernise companies and retain talent, which is essential today for improving productivity", added the Vice-president, who called on companies to take advantage of these contracts and put an end to both the fraudulent use of unpaid internships and the diversion of trainees to tasks unrelated to their specific training plans. Díaz noted that in 2024, there were 944,543 unpaid internships in Spain compared to only 54,987 formal training contracts.

The Minister for Labour and Social Economy explained that work-study programmes must have a specific, written contract, fully regulating the rights and participation of union representatives, signed between the trainee and the training centre. Furthermore, it will require dual supervision, by both the training or education centre and the person responsible for that training within the company. Remuneration may be no lower than the Minimum Interprofessional Salary (SMI), under any circumstances, in proportion to the actual hours worked.

Yolanda Díaz highlighted the usefulness in this area of the Public Employment Service's catalogue of specialisations, which covers more than 700,000 people and is responding quickly to the needs of companies, for example, in data centres or renewable energy.

In the case of internship contracts, the training that qualifies the individual to enter into the employment relationship must be fully completed, as highlighted by the Second Vice-president.

Teresa Peramato, new Crown Prosecutor of the State

The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, during the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/José Manuel Álvarez

The Council of Ministers has initiated the legally established procedure to appoint Teresa Peramato as the Crown Prosecutor of the State, replacing Álvaro García Ortiz, who resigned from his post yesterday.

The Minister for the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, Félix Bolaños, explained that the Government has requested a report from the General Council of the Judiciary, which will determine whether there are any grounds for ineligibility or whether Peramato meets the legal requirements for appointment. This report, expected to be issued in the coming days, will be sent to the Justice Committee of the Lower House of Parliament, where Teresa Peramato will have to appear so that her suitability and merits can be assessed. Ultimately, the appointment of the new Crown Prosecutor of the State will be made by the King, upon the proposal of the Council of Ministers, after consulting the General Council of the Judiciary.

During his appearance at the press conference following the Council of Ministers, Félix Bolaños reviewed the 35-year professional career of the current Chief Prosecutor of the Criminal Section of the Supreme Court: "Her career is impeccable, with extraordinary legal training, undeniable recognition from all legal professionals, and a feminist commitment and dedication to public service evident to all".

The proposed appointment coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, commemorated today. The minister recalled that Teresa Paramato held, among other positions, that of Prosecutor of the Special Chamber for Violence against Women.

Challenges for the Public Prosecution Service

Félix Bolaños has argued that Teresa Peramato is "absolutely the right person" to carry out the challenges facing the Public Prosecution Service. The first of these, the minister pointed out, is to continue strengthening its autonomy, as well as the material and human resources the Prosecution Service needs to fulfil its mission: prosecuting crime and upholding the law.

Secondly, Peramato will work to achieve independence of judgement in all courts and tribunals in our country. The third challenge highlighted by Bolaños is to support the reforms the Government is undertaking in the area of justice: "That which we have been calling the transformation of justice over decades, which translates into a fundamental overhaul of the criminal investigation system in our country, such that the investigation would be assumed by the Public Prosecution Service, always with a supervising judge to revoke or ratify the decisions made by the prosecutor in their criminal investigation".

Recognition of Álvaro García Ortiz

The Minister for Justice acknowledged the work of the current Crown Prosecutor of the State, Álvaro García Ortiz, who will continue serving until the appointment of a new Crown Prosecutor of the State: "He has performed his duties brilliantly and has remained in his position, guaranteeing the independence and autonomy of the Public Prosecution Service, acting with an undeniable commitment to public service and evident personal dedication".

Economic and social recovery of the island of La Palma

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, during the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/José Manuel Álvarez

The Government has approved a new Royal Decree-Law adopting urgent complementary measures for the economic and social recovery of the island of La Palma following the damage caused by the volcanic eruptions. Once published in the Official State Gazette, it will be applied immediately, but will have to be ratified by the Lower House of Parliament.

The measures included in the legislation are in addition to the €1.1 billion allocated to the island's recovery and reconstruction since the start of the eruption.

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, explained the content of the regulation, which is aimed exclusively at the island of La Palma. Firstly, the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands is exceptionally authorised to allocate €100 million from its 2024 budget surplus to finance aid for affected individuals and entities, particularly for damage to agricultural properties and compensation for infrastructure construction on land expropriated or damaged by volcanic flows. The minister noted that nearly €400 million had already been allocated to financially compensate citizens who lost their primary residences. "An effort had to be made, especially for the most affected sector, which is the primary sector". And therefore, €100 million will go to this primary sector", he emphasised.

Ángel Víctor Torres highlighted that the second measure included in the legislation is also related to the primary sector: the moratorium on interest and principal payments is reinstated for those who had taken out loans and credit due to the loss of their farms in El Paso, Los Llanos de Aridane, and Tazacorte, and whose income derives primarily from agriculture. This decision benefits some 200 farmers.

As a third measure, the minister announced that residents of the island of La Palma will receive a 60% reduction in their Personal Income Tax. In addition, the period for justifying the subsidies granted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands (approximately €12 million) and the Island Council (€3.3 million) has been extended until the end of the third quarter of 2026.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/José Manuel Álvarez

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, announced the approval of an institutional declaration on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, commemorated every 25 November. The Government spokesperson began her speech by remembering all the women, girls, and boys who are victims of gender-based violence and conveyed a message of "affection, respect, and solidarity" to their families.

Pilar Alegría noted that, since records began, a total of 1,333 women have been murdered by their partners or ex-partners in Spain, 38 of them this year. In view of this reality, as the minister explained, the government expresses its "absolute" rejection of all forms of violence against women and its "firm" commitment to continue advancing towards real and effective equality. "We are fully aware that violence against women requires unity and determination, and that is why we will not allow a single step backward: because women must live free and without fear", she concluded.

New Declaration of areas affected by a Civil Protection Emergency

The Government spokesperson also announced the Council of Ministers' approval of a new declaration of "areas seriously affected by a Civil Protection emergency" for territories that have suffered catastrophic events of various kinds, mostly floods, during the last three months.

Pilar Alegría confirmed that this declaration will apply to 63 districts located in 15 autonomous communities. Among other emergencies, the approved text includes the torrential rainstorm of 30 September on the islands of Ibiza and Formentera; Storm Alice between 9 and 13 October in the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, and Murcia; and the forest fires recorded between 26 August and 9 November in Asturias, Castile and León, Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Navarre, Galicia, and the Balearic Islands.

All the people affected by these episodes have already been able to apply for the aid provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, intended to mitigate personal and material damages. Furthermore, based on the approval of the Council of Ministers, other ministries may adopt various measures to alleviate the consequences of these emergencies, such as tax benefits, employment measures, or subsidies for damage to agricultural production.

Non official translation