December closes with 102,548 workers in ERTE

The number of workers protected by ERTE linked to COVID-19, coming from any of the ERTE modalities launched during the pandemic, closed the month of December at 102,548 people, which represents a decrease of more than 35,000 workers compared to as of October 31, the last date before the new ERTE modalities came into force due to the pandemic. Of the total, workers are distributed practically 50% between those who are partially suspended (49,685) and totally (52,863), according to preliminary data from Social Security.

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The 102,548 workers in ERTE-COVID as of December 31, 2021 represent a decrease of almost 520,000 workers compared to those protected just a year earlier by ERTE related to COVID. Regarding the peak of the pandemic, it represents a decrease of more than 3 million people.

Of the 102,548 workers at ERTE-COVID, there are 76,259 entitled to training exemptions. Virtually all companies have already declared whether or not they will carry out training programs. Of the communications so far, 30,251 workers will benefit from any of these training programs and, therefore, their companies will receive special exemptions in the social contributions of said workers.

By sectors, there is a significant sectoral concentration in activities related to hospitality and tourism. The sector with the most workers protected by ERTE is travel agencies (with 32% of workers protected), followed by air transport (with 10%).

As of December 31, 0.67% of the affiliates of the General Regime are protected by ERTE-COVID (excluding special regimes). Only the islands have more than 1% of the workers in ERTE-COVID and, on the contrary, Huesca is the province in which fewer workers remain in these modalities, with 0.14% of its affiliates in ERTE.

On average, throughout the month of December, a total of 103,801 workers have been protected by ERTE linked to COVID.

In addition, there are another 20,124 workers at ERTE-ETOP (for reasons not related to the pandemic), with a slight reduction compared to the 28,805 that existed as of October 31. In this type of ERTE there is a notable concentration in the automobile sector, which accounts for almost 30% of the workers of this type of ERTE. Geographically, there is also concentration in the provinces where the automotive sector has a greater relative weight.

Finally, another 1,415 workers are protected by the special ERTEs due to the volcanic eruption on La Palma, which represent 8.2% of the island’s affiliates. In the case of the ERTE of La Palma, the most affected sectors are accommodation and food and beverage services, which concentrate more than 40% of the workers in this type of ERTE.