Soldiers were seen walking alongside a car graveyard in Paiporta, near Valencia, eastern Spain, on November 27, 2024, following the devastating floods that claimed numerous lives — AFP.
Spain's leftist government has introduced a 'paid climate leave' policy, allowing workers up to four days off to avoid travel during weather emergencies. This move comes a month after floods killed 230 people. Several companies faced criticism for insisting employees continue working despite a red alert from the national weather agency issued on October 29. The firms claimed that the authorities did not provide adequate information and sent alerts too late, contributing to the deadliest floods in decades in the European country. The new measure is designed to 'regulate in accordance with the climate emergency' so that 'no worker must run risks,' according to Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz, who spoke to public broadcaster RTVE. Diaz emphasized that if emergency authorities issue a risk warning, 'the worker must refrain from going to work.' The government also mentioned that employees can opt for a reduced working day beyond the four-day period, a mechanism already in place for emergencies. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo cautioned that the cost of extreme weather events could double by 2050, as the government announced 2.3 billion euros in additional aid for flood victims. Scientists attribute the increased length, frequency, and intensity of natural disasters to climate change driven by human activity.
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