The Sectoral conference on labour affairs (Conferencia Sectorial de Empleo y Asuntos Laborales) is the general instrument for coordination and cooperation between the central government and the 17 autonomous regions and cities of Ceuta and Melilla in employment policy. One of its functions is to distribute the available funds between the regions.
Central level
Central government is responsible for:
- Labour market related legislation;
- Legislation on active (training) and passive (unemployment insurance) employment policies;
- General planning of economic activity;
- Coordination of employment actions (Ministry of Labour);
- Foreigners' work legislation and execution (except for Communities with powers in this matter: Catalonia and Andalusia at the moment);
- Implementation of labour policies of trans-regional dimension.
- Management of unemployment insurance/benefits;
- Control over SPES-funded Operational Programmes, even where implemented by AC;
- Maintenance of State database, including job applicants, job offers and job contracts;
- Maintenance of Observatory of professions and drawing up of statistics;
- Management of subsidies granted for hiring workers;
- Management of programmes that are funded by the Credit Reserve;
- Drawing up, in cooperation with the AC, and follow up of Guidelines for the National Plans of Action on Employment (PNAE) and the current Reforms Plan;
- Distribution of national public funds.
- Inspectorate for Health and Safety at work and policies on working conditions through the Strategy of Safety and Health in the workplace 2015-2020.
- Authorisation of placement agencies working across the Spanish territory.
Regional level
Regional level authorities are responsible for:
- Implementation and management of active policies and placement services;
- Independent organisation of public employment services (PESs);
- Management of subsidies to promote employment;
- Designing and financing of own policies;
- Participation in the selection of criteria used to distribute funds for active policies among all of the AC;
- Sending the necessary statistical information in order to maintain the State database;
- Involvement in the management of discounts of social fees for permanent contracting[1];
- Executive power and management of foreigners' work permits (only in Catalonia and Andalusia at the moment);
- Joint agency with the State for controlling the working conditions and workers' rights (Inspección de trabajo).
- Authorisation of placement agencies working in only one Autonomous Community.
Local level
Provincial competences:
- Securing coordination and provision of municipal services.
Municipal competences:[2]
- Definition and development of employment and training activities.
Responsible ministries/bodies
Ministry of
Labour and Social Economy
Ministry of
Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations
Sources
Ministry of Employment, Migrations and Social Security, Employment Guide (updated in May 2019).
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Rescaling Social Welfare policies in Spain, A comparative study on the path towards multi-level governance in Europe, Madrid, 2006, pp. 35-41.
Real Decreto-Ley 14/2011, de 16 de Septiembre, de medidas complementarias en materia de políticas de empleo y de regulación del regimen de las fuerzas y cuerpos de seguridad del Estado [Royal Decree-Law 14/2011, of 16 September, on complementary measures in the field of employment policies and regulation of the Regime of State Security forces and bodies].
Real Decreto-Ley 3/2012 de 10 de febrero, de medidas urgentes para la reforma laboral [Royal Decree-Law 3/2012 of 10 February 2012 on urgent measures for the labour market reform].
Plan de Choque por el Empleo Joven 2019-2021: http://www.sepe.es/contenidos/personas/encontrar_empleo/plan-choque-empleo-joven-2019-2021.html
Estrategia Española de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo 2015-2020: https://www.insst.es/documentacion/catalogo-de-publicaciones/estrategia-espanola-de-seguridad-y-salud-en-el-trabajo-2015-20201 Cedefop, Vocational Education and Training in Europe: Spain (2016) https://cumulus.cedefop.europa.eu/files/vetelib/2016/2016_CR_ES.pdf
[1] Real Decreto-Ley 14/2011, de 16 de Septiembre, de medidas complementarias en materia de políticas de empleo y de regulación del régimen de las fuerzas y cuerpos de seguridad del Estado. (Royal Decree-Law 14/2011, of 16 September, on complementary measures in the field of employment policies and regulation of the Regime of State Security forces and bodies).
[2] These competences shall be exercised in accordance to the conditions defined in the Regional and State laws, therefore there might be slight differences from one Autonomous Community to the other.
