Spanish Parliament Prepares Integral Law to Boost Rural Economy Through Social Economy Initiatives
Spain is set to present a new law aiming to boost the rural economy by strengthening cooperatives and social enterprises, focusing on depopulated areas and vulnerable groups.
- • Integral Project Law to support cooperatives and social economy entities is to be presented on December 9.
- • Amendment focuses on rural areas at risk of depopulation with regulatory study required within 12 months.
- • Incentives for essential rural services such as hospitality and pharmacy are included.
- • Hiring scope for insertion companies expanded to vulnerable groups, reinforcing social protection.
Key details
The Spanish government is advancing an integral Project Law aimed at strengthening the social economy, focusing on cooperatives, insertion companies, special employment centers, mutuals, and labor societies. This legislative initiative, which will be presented to the Commission of Labor, Social Economy, Inclusion, Social Security, and Migrations on December 9, is also a precursor to a new law designed specifically to support establishments in rural and depopulated areas.
A significant amendment, proposed by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and supported by Sumar, mandates the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy to study new regulatory measures within 12 months to enhance rural establishments. The law intends to incentivize essential services in at-risk rural regions, including hospitality, food commerce, rural pharmacies, and administrative services. Further provisions extend the scope of hiring for insertion companies to include vulnerable groups such as the homeless and those experiencing deteriorating vulnerabilities, while reinforcing support mechanisms.
Additionally, the law strengthens the role of social services in certifying professional competencies and requires insertion companies to demonstrate two years of prior experience in social exclusion to retain their social status. These legislative efforts reflect a comprehensive approach to fostering sustainable economic activity in Spain's rural communities through social economy entities.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
