"Creating jobs is the best antidote against wage discrimination", says Mariano Rajoy

Lower House of Parliament, Madrid

In response to a question from Pedro Sánchez, a member of the Socialist Group, the President of the Government insisted that "the largest increase in wage inequality in Spain is that which is caused by unemployment". He went on to state that the best policy "is job creation". On this issue, he recalled that almost 200,000 women found a job last year "following uninterrupted increases in female unemployment since 2005".

Furthermore, Mariano Rajoy said that the Government of Spain has taken measures over the last three years to reduce "the wage gap between men and women". He also announced that the Government of Spain will soon approve a plan in pursuit of equality between men and women in the workplace.

The President of the Government said that policies have been developed "to help people live better lives", such as those that create jobs, control inflation and guarantee "fair taxes", such as that brought about by the recent tax reform.

Real and effective equality

Rosa Díez, spokesperson for Unión, Progreso y Democracia (UPyD) [Union, Progress and Democracy], also asked Mariano Rajoy a question about equality among Spaniards. In response to her question, the President of the Government said that the Government of Spain defends "equal rights for all in the eyes of the law, equal access to public services and equal opportunities".

Hence, Mariano Rajoy summarised everything that has been done in the last three years to ensure that equality is "real and effective". In education issues, the early school drop-out rate has been reduced from 26.3% to 21.9%, a new Education Act has been approved and "the largest amount in history" has been allocated to education grants. In employment - "the largest inequality factor in our country" - 400,000 jobs were created in 2014. In terms of public services, the President of the Government explained that "healthcare is universal, free and public for all". The same can be said of the pension system.

Pool MoncloaMariano Rajoy also stressed that the Government of Spain has fought against poverty, inequality and social exclusion. He said that the indexes that measure inequality in Spain all improved in 2013 and 2014. As regards regional affairs, the Government of Spain has promoted the Regional Liquidity Fund (Spanish acronym: FLA) and the Supplier Payment Plan. The aim of these measures is non other than cirizens, wherever they live, "do not have to suffer the consequences of the poor economic situation of a certain regional government and grant them equal access to public services".

The new Hydrocarbons Act

On other matters, the Member of the Lower House for PNV [Basque nationalist party], Aitor Esteban, asked the President of the Government about the new Hydrocarbons Act currently being passed through Parliament. In response, Mariano Rajoy recognised the importance of the gas industry in the Basque Country and expressed willingness to enter into dialogue "if sensible proposals are put forward".

Pool MoncloaAfter recalling that a reform of the electricity sector has already taken place, Mariano Rajoy underlined the importance of the new Hydrocarbons Act because "energy is fundamental" to "recovering competitiveness in the Spanish economy". He explained that the new regulation "include numerous measures to foster competition, guarantee supply and transparency". One of those measures, he added, is the creation of an organised secondary market.