[LAUREN TAYLOR]
DEADLY FLOODING IN SPAIN JUST WEEKS AGO HAS LEFT SUCH AN IMPACT ITS NOW LEADING TO CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE.
SPAIN’S COUNCIL OF MINISTERS PASSING A MEASURE THIS WEEK GUARANTEEING FOUR DAYS OF PAID CLIMATE LEAVE FOR WORKERS IN THE EVENT OF DANGEROUS WEATHER.
THE MEASURE MOVED FORWARD THURSDAY AND IS DESIGNED TO PROTECT COMMUTING WORKERS DURING NATURAL DISASTERS AND EXTREME CONDITIONS.
THE LEGISLATION MUST BE CERTIFIED WITHIN A MONTH BY LAWMAKERS.
FLOODING LAST MONTH TURNED SPANISH STREETS INTO RIVERS KILLING NEARLY 230 PEOPLE.
MANY EMPLOYERS WERE CRITICIZED FOR REQUIRING EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE WORKING DESPITE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER AGENCY.
RESTAURANT WORKERS WERE REPORTEDLY WORKING THROUGH THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THE FLOODING IN VALENCIA AND HUNDREDS BECAME TRAPPED IN BUSINESS PARKS.
COMPANIES CONTENDED OFFICIALS LEFT THEM WITH LITTLE INFORMATION ON CONDITIONS AND ISSUED ALERTS TOO LATE.
THE NEW LAW WILL “REGULATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY” TO MINIMIZE RISKS TO EMPLOYEES DURING SEVERE WEATHER.
THE PAID LEAVE WOULD TAKE EFFECT WHEN CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCIES ADVISE RESIDENTS TO STAY HOME AND REMOTE WORK IS UNAVAILABLE DURING UNSAFE WEATHER.
THE NEW RULE ALSO MANDATES COMPANIES DEVELOP SPECIFIC RISK-PREVENTION PROCEDURES FOR CLIMATE EMERGENCIES AND INFORM EMPLOYEES OF THE MEASURES.
OFFICIALS SAY EMPLOYERS WILL FACE “THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW” IF THEY DENY EMPLOYEES THESE RIGHTS.
THOUGH SPECIFICS ON THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE YET TO BE KNOWN AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT.
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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.