The Government delegate in Asturias, Delia Losa, has reviewed the effect in Asturias of some of the main social measures taken by the Executive chaired by Pedro Sánchez. “This government is demonstrating that economic competitiveness and the prosperity of the population are compatible, that it is possible to create wealth and consolidate the welfare state, thanks to progressive policies, because people’s problems are at the center of our policies,” said Losa before recalling that in recent years “we have had to face situations such as the health emergency due to Covid-19, or the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“In five years of progressive government, a positive figure has been imposed in the face of each catastrophic prophecy,” said the government delegate, “and today’s Spain is a better Spain than the one we found when we arrived at the Executive.” Losa believes that this trend will be consolidated because “there are still four years ahead to consolidate all these advances and leave no one behind”.
Employment
Advances among which Delia Losa has highlighted the data of the labor market: “We’re creating more and better jobs.” According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Inclusion, there are 380,073 contributors to Social Security in Asturias. That’s 15,917 more than in December 2018, the increase is 4.3 percent. In addition, thanks to the reform of the labor market, indefinite contracts have risen by 179.2 percent from 2019, to 78,102, “which means a temporary rate in historical minimums.”
The government delegate also recalled the recent increase in the minimum professional wage, which is set at 1,134 euros per month and benefits some 40,000 people in Asturias. Since 2018, the figure has increased by 54 percent, especially benefiting women and young people: “We continue on the path of fulfilling the commitment to place it at 60 percent of the average wage in Spain.”
Social measures
Delia Losa believes that this government “will also go down in history” because it is the one that approved the Minimum Vital Income “which is already one more leg of our welfare state”. In Asturias the benefit already reaches 19,337 families where 45,391 people live, of which almost 17,000 are minors.
Among the measures promoted by the Government of Spain that have impacted on the savings of families to cushion the impact of inflation, are the electric social bond, which has reached 40,314 households, or the payment for free travel in Neighbourhoods or Media Distancia, which represents a saving of about 100 euros per family per month, which in 2023 used 150,000 train users in Asturias and which in the course of 2024 has been granted to 32,318 people.
“Our goal,” said Losa, “is to continue improving the lives of the people of our country.” And he recalled the royal decrees with social measures approved by the Council of Ministers and that in their validation in the Congress of Deputies he did not have the support of the right: “That’s the sense of state that most of the opposition has.”
Pensions and scholarships
The Government’s delegate has focused on measures aimed at young people: “We care about our young people and their future.” Last year the Government of Spain approved the largest amount in history for scholarships: 2.5 billion euros. It is 18 percent more than in 2022, and 70 percent higher “if we compare it to the last PP budget.” In Asturias it amounts to 21.7 million euros that 11,343 young people receive: 4,529 university students and 6,814 non-university students. Losa has addressed itself to young people: “This government doesn’t care where you come from but what future you can build. It only matters your ability.”
Delia Losa recalled that “aware of the difficulties that young people and a large part of the population have to access a home,” the first State Housing Law was approved. “This government wants to place housing as the fifth pillar of the welfare state and the commitment is to mobilize more than 180,000 affordable rental housing throughout the country,” he said. For example, within the Recovery Plan, the Government of Spain has signed agreements with the Government of the Principality and twelve Asturian councils to build 551 social rental homes. The government’s disbursement is 21.6 million euros.
On pensions, the Government of Spain remains committed to updating them in accordance with the CPI. This means that in 2024 the average retirement pension in Asturias is fixed at 1,697.41 euros, 354.6 euros more than what they collected in 2018. “Do you know how much the PP model would have gone up if it were still in force?” asked Losa, “21 euros”, he replied.
Recovery Plan
The Government delegate has also updated the figures of European funds that have been mobilized in Asturias: “The impact of funds that this government fought for during the pandemic and that unfortunately did not have the support of the opposition is undeniable.” From 2021 until the end of December 2023, Asturias has received 2,066 million euros from the Next Generation Fund-EU. It is the sum of the 196 million euros from Reacted EU and the 1,870 million euros from the Recovery Plan.
Of the 1,870 million euros of the Recovery Plan, 640 million euros have been received by the Government of the Principality through transfers in Sectoral Conference, agreements and direct concessions. The rest of the money, 1.230 billion euros, is executed directly by the General Administration of the State, which in Asturias benefits 8,500 projects.
Delia Losa highlighted some of the actions of the European funds, such as the grant of 450 million euros granted to ArcelorMittal for its decarbonization project: “It is the biggest direct aid in the history of Spain. The Ministry of Industry’s talks with the multinational are constant and fluid and we trust that they will come to fruition.”
Thanks to the Next Generation EU funds, five major projects for the strengthening of the renewable hydrogen value chain are already funded with 66 million euros of funding, thanks to the PERTE of renewable energies, hydrogen and storage.
Another PERTE, that of the naval sector, also benefits the shipyards of Gondan and Armón benefit from the aid approved within this PERTE. Both companies are part of the tractor project promoted by Navantia, which receives 57.8 million euros.
Finally, the Government delegate has highlighted the 24 tourism sustainability plans that have received more than 75.4 million euros in funding.