Madrid (EFE).- Work to live. Live to work. One of the main current political arguments in Spain is based on how to approach this premise. It is a reality that especially affects women because they represent 60% of the unemployed and because they request 70% of the leaves of absence to care for their children and/or dependent persons. The equality policies of the present and the future are supported, therefore and to a large extent, on employment.
This has been the first block of the fourth sectorial debate organized by the EFE Agency before the elections on July 23, dedicated to equality and feminism. Andrea Fernández, from the PSOE; Patricia Rodríguez, from the PP; María Ruiz, from Vox; and Elizabeth Duval, from Sumar, have been the speakers at an event that has been held at the CaixaForum in Madrid thanks to the “la Caixa” Foundation and which has reviewed what has been done and what should be done in the areas of employment, fight against sexist violence, education and LGTBI rights.
The forum has allowed the confrontation of models and proposals, but not only. The role played by Irene Montero’s Ministry of Equality has generated moments of tension, especially as a result of the criticism leveled by Rodríguez, of the PP, for whom the department has been characterized by “legislative bungling”, alluding to the so-called law of ‘only yes is yes’.
Extension of paternity and maternity leave
Framed in the “EFE Forum 23J” cycle, the discussion follows those held on environmental policies, foreign policy and economic proposals. Equality and feminism have motivated the fourth and last debate before the elections on July 23.
Fernández, in this initial block dedicated to employment, has advocated, first, vindicating the management of the Government of Pedro Sánchez, which has been based on the distribution of wealth and a more balanced distribution of the workload of men and women, and as a demonstration of commitment, he has cited the extension of paternity leave.
Rodríguez has chosen to outline the program of the PP candidate in the 23J elections, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, and therefore, to emphasize equality plans in companies, to promote the presence of more women in management positions and to expand the paternity and maternity leave for single-parent and single-parent families.
For Vox, the priority is to launch tax aid to companies so that they hire women, since employment is the key to accessing a home, raising a family or enjoying free time and leisure activities. .
And Sumar, through Duval, has emphasized the positive effects of the labor reform, and especially the increase in the SMI to 1,080 euros. The spokesperson for Equality of the Yolanda Díaz movement has also defended the extension of these paternity and maternity leaves to single-parent families, but paid, as well as the granting of 200 euros per child for several months.
Another argument of dissent has arisen in this field: recruitment statistics, which the PP believes are incomplete.