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Austerity measures and structural reforms have come under fire in Spain, one of the countries most affected by the economic crisis. Now, the Constitutional Court of Spain and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are reviewing the viability and adequacy of the laws passed as part of the restructuring plans.

This review includes the new law of educational improvement, which was denounced by unions as being an assault on the education system. Since the beginning of the economic crisis, Spain has been one of the countries which had to carry out the most reforms in order to comply with the requirements of international institutions and organisations. In 2010 and 2012, in particular, labour reforms were approved by two very distinct governments: the social democrats and the conservatives. The unions deemed the reforms ineffective and unfair, and called several general strikes to protest the dismantling of the welfare state and of workers’ rights.

ILO: Reforms violate rights

Recently, the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association acknowledged that the 2012 labour reform violated people’s rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining. It also said that the Spanish government should be promoting effective social dialogue rather than unilaterally imposing labour reform. This a significant victory for workers’ rights advocates in Spain, and it should set a precedent in challenging unjust laws characterised by the clear intention of damaging the  labour movement’s achievements.

Teaching threatened

Meanwhile, Spain’s Constitutional Court has agreed to hear six appeals of unconstitutionality brought against the education reform. This is the first step taken towards curbing the LOMCE, a law that set out serious cuts in education and which also falls within the broader context of the dismantling of the welfare state and public services.

The Spanish unions have brought various legal actions against the LOMCE, both at national and international level, in addition to carrying out awareness-raising campaigns. The FECCOO initiative, “Dare to change course”, explains why LOMCE is the most rejected Education Act in Spanish democracy. FETE-UGT, meanwhile, published a monograph detailing the main effects of the Act.

Spanish society and the unions have also mobilised against austerity and education reforms. A student strike was called on 26-27 March, with many demonstrations in the country’s major cities.