From the book "Spain beyond Myths", by Carlos Alonso Zaldivar and Manuel
              Castells, Alianza Editorial, Madrid, 1992.-

The area of social reform in which the Government has acted most explicitly and definitely in Spain during the eighties was that of social protection of persons and groups expelled from the labour market or who suffer special forms of discrimination in the labour market. The efforts in that respect have been aimed at raising pensions and increasing the number of beneficiaries of such pensions, as well as coordinating social policy under the Ministry of Social Affairs established in 1988.

The guiding principle during these years has been to extend social benefits to all those who need tehm, simply on account of being persons, in the form of non-controbutory pensions, i.e. pensions to which people are entitled even though they have not paid any dues during their working life. This principle, which is rejected under the conservative philosophy, consists in protecting citizens and respecting their freedom as individuals and workers. By applying this principle in the context of the new Spanish Welfare State, the problems of poverty and marginality could be attacked at the root.

The first step taken under the policy of social welfare in force during the past decade has been to raise contributory pensions (retirement, disability and widows' pensions), whose number increased by 30% between 1981 and 1989, including a 22.6% increase in the number of retirement pensions. At the same time, the average pension was raised from Pesetas 15,161 in 1980 to Pesetas 18,319 in 1990, in 1980 constant peseta terms, while the average retirement pension was raised from Ptas. 16,843 to Ptas. 21,119 in 1980 constant peseta terms. However, pensions are not yet high enough, particularly for those who live in large cities and do not have any family support. In 1990, 78% of pensions were still below Ptas. 50,000, including 71% of the retirement pensions. The principles being applied here are to extend pensions to cover all persons who need them and to bring minimum retirement penions in line with minimum wages, as well as to adjust them in line with inflation. Besides, many more pensioners have been brought under the public health care system: while the total protected population increased by 16% between 1983 and 1989, the number of pensioners under the Social Security health protection system rose by 40.9%. Besides, the number of non-contributory pensions increased substantially, from 9,300 in 1986 to 114,000 in 1989, under the Non-Contributory Pensions Act of January, 1991, which provides for such pensions to be made available to all who need them. This has involved an additional expense for the Administration in social services, which although lower than average expenditure for the purpose in Europe, nevertheless grew considerably during the past decade, from 0.59% of GDP in 1980 to 0.88% in 1988.

Apart from the sums spent in this area, a number of policies have been implemented for protecting women's rights, protecting children and helping young people to develop, and specific campaigns have been carried aout for promoting the wellbeing society, such as the campaigns for spreading the use of contraceptive devices by young people whose success has probably contributed towards preventing unwanted pregnancies and reducing the risk of venereal diseases and AIDS.

Finally, perhaps the main subject of the new social policy is that towards the elderly, which goes beyond the retirement policy and improved pensions. As the traditional social protective nets of Spanish society are falling apart and people arrive at the age of retirement with a better cultural level and in better physical condition than they used to, Spain's policy for the elderly has to take a qualitative jump. On one hand, substantial sums continue to be invested in traditional facilities. For example, even though homes for elderly people remain unpopular, often justifiably so according to the Report issued by the Ombudsman on the subject, Spain would have to double the 104,000 places currently available in such institutions over the next decade in order to be able to admit 3.5% of those over 65 (which would be less than the percentage currently living in such institutions in Europe). However, the new institutions (which are absolutely necessary for certain segments of the elderly, particularly those over 85) must be designed according to new rules providing for more personalised treatment, medial facilities and samller-sized centres with a different distribution of space. At the same time, alternative formulas which consist in providing assistance to those who remain at home have started to be implemented, to keep the elderly for as long as possible in their environment and neighbourhood. In 1990, more than 42,000 persons were benefitting from the new home asistance formulas, at an annual cost of Pesetas 6 billion. Policies of protection of the elderly, which call for improving their material living conditions (including pensions) and the quality of life by integrating them in society and encouraging elderly citizens to take part in various activities, have all been brought together under a National Gerontogical Plan which is one of the most advanced models in Europe. The Plan is expected to have an overall cost of half a trillion pesetas in ten years starting in 1992.

If you need additional information about the topics of this chapter, please write or call to:

    LABOUR SECTION OF THE EMBASSY OF SPAIN
    350 Sparks Street, Suite 909
    Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8
    Canada
    Phone Number 613. 234 1975
    Fax 613. 232 9304

The 12 topics are the following:

1. THE BEGINNINGS AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY
2. THE MODEL OF SOCIAL PROTECTION
3. THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
4. PENSIONS GRANTED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
5. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SERVICES (INSERSO)
6. THE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES SOCIAL SERVICE LAWS
7. THE BASIC SOCIAL SERVICE NETWORK IN THE LOCAL CORPORATIONS
8. THE INTEGRATION OF MINORITY GROUPS
9. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN
10. POLICIES AIMED AT YOUTH
11. SOCIAL CARE AND PROMOTION OF CHILDREN IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
12. NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS

Thank-you very much.