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Spanish workers hold general strike over labour reforms Spanish workers hold general strike over labour reforms
(40 minutes later)
Spanish unions are holding a general strike to protest against labour reforms which the government hopes will help cut unemployment. Spanish unions are holding a general strike to protest against labour reforms which the new government hopes will help cut unemployment.
Evening marches are planned throughout the country and the transport network will also be affected. Road, rail and air transport are all due to be affected, with domestic and European flights cut to a fraction of their usual volume.
The stoppage comes just a day before the government is due to announce new austerity measures. Mariano Rajoy's conservative government is to unveil measures on Friday to save tens of billions of euros.
Friday's budget is set to lay out tens of billions of euros in deficit-reduction measures. The strike is the government's first big challenge since taking office.
Spain, which has the highest rate of unemployment in the European Union, is under pressure to reduce its budget deficit and bring its public finances under control. With the EU's highest rate of unemployment, Spain is under pressure to reduce its budget deficit and bring its public finances under control.
The country's two biggest unions have called the action to demonstrate against new legislation which makes it easier and cheaper for companies to fire employees. The country's two biggest unions called the strike to demonstrate against new legislation which makes it easier and cheaper for companies to fire employees.
The law, which was approved in February, also reduces maximum severance pay to 33 days' salary for each year worked, compared with the current 45 days. Protest marches are planned throughout the country during the evening.
'Brutal reform'
The new legislation, approved in February, also reduces maximum severance pay to 33 days' salary for each year worked, compared with the current 45 days.
The government insists the reforms will create a more flexible system for businesses and workers, in a country with a stagnant economy that needs to start creating jobs.The government insists the reforms will create a more flexible system for businesses and workers, in a country with a stagnant economy that needs to start creating jobs.
Polls suggested only 30% of workers would take part in the strike, but observers say the results of regional elections on Sunday - which punished the ruling People's Party - may lead to greater participation. Polls have suggested only 30% of workers will take part in the strike but observers say the results of regional elections on Sunday - which punished the ruling People's Party - may lead to greater participation.
"This labour reform was meant to protect entrepreneurs and what it really protects are big companies," Maria Jose said, as she protested outside a warehouse in the capital, Madrid. Ignacio Fernandez Toxo, leader of the CCOO trade union, said the strike was "a just response to a brutal reform of our system of labour relations".
One protester in the capital Madrid, Maria Jose, said: "This labour reform was meant to protect entrepreneurs and what it really protects are big companies.
"That is why we are here fighting together.""That is why we are here fighting together."
Are you in Spain? Are you taking part in the strike? Send us your stories using the form below. Under an agreement between the government and the unions, at least a minimum service of a third of local trains and buses is due to run, with one in 10 domestic and one in five European flights.
Mr Rajoy, who took office in December, defended his measures on the grounds that they would eventually generate more jobs.
"No government has passed as many reforms in its first 100 days in office as this one," he said on Tuesday, speaking on a visit to South Korea.
"The biggest mistake would be to do nothing," the Spanish prime minister added.
Are you in Spain? What do you think of the planned labour reforms? Are you taking part in the strike? Will you be affected by the strike? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below.
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