Spain’s leftist government introduced “paid climate leave” on Thursday, allowing employees to take up to four days off to avoid traveling during a weather emergency, according to AFP news agency.
The decision comes a month after devastating floods hit Valencia at the end of October, killing 230 people.
During the October floods, several companies sparked outrage by ordering their employees to continue working even after the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency warning.
The companies had argued that authorities failed to notify them in advance and sent out phone alerts too late during the country’s worst flooding.
Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz told public broadcaster RTVE that the new policy aims to “regulate according to the climate emergency” so that workers are not put at risk. Diaz added that if emergency personnel raise the alarm about the risk, “staff members must refrain from coming to work.”
According to the Spanish government, employees can take reduced working days if their needs exceed four days, a system that already exists for emergencies.
The Guardian reports that the bill is reportedly inspired by a similar law in Canada.
“In the face of right-wing climate change denialism, the Spanish government is stepping up its environmental policy,” the paper further quoted El Pais as saying.
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo warned that damage from extreme weather events could double by 2050. This comes after the government announced €2.3 billion in new aid for flood victims.
Scientists say human activities are driving climate change and also making natural disasters longer, more frequent, and more intense. Extreme rainfall due to climate change is more common in Europe, much of Asia, central-eastern North America, South America, Australia, and some parts of Africa.
All but eight flood deaths reportedly occurred in Valencia, with conservative regional president Carlos Mazon admitting mistakes had been made.
But he refused to resign, insisting that the disaster of “apocalyptic” proportions had simply overloaded the system.
Just two weeks after the floods, heavy rains once again hit several parts of Spain, forcing around 3,000 people to evacuate their homes in the Malaga region.
(With AFP input)
