Spain's Union/Business talks end unsuccessfully

 

Bilateral talks between Spanish unions and business leaders on much-needed labour reform have ended unsuccessfully but talks will continue over the weekend with the government involved, a union spokesman said on Friday. "We've exhausted bilateral talks without success. Three-way talks are going to start now immediately, possibly this very weekend, with the government's presence at the negotiating table," a spokesman for Spain's second largest union UGT said.

Unions have made clear this week that they have been unable to make ground in labour reform talks with business leaders, meaning that the government will get involved to mediate.

"There's a fundamental difference in vision between the two sides," the UGT spokesman said.

The government has set an end-May deadline for agreement on labour reform, which economists say is key for Spain to boost its competitiveness.