Living wage for poorest

MORE social salaries were granted in Almeria province last year than in 2011.

The Andalucian Government gave 3,000 social salaries in Almeria province, up from 2,500 in 2011, according to sources at the Almeria Delegation for Health and Social Wellbeing.

The scheme provides a monthly allowance for those with no other source of income. It pays a basic 62 per cent the national minimum wage with an extra 8 per cent for every member of the family that joins, up to a maximum of 100 per cent.

Alfredo Valdivia, of the delegation, said that despite a 78 per cent cut by the central administration in the national budget for social salaries, the regional government has assigned an extra 12 per cent to keep alive the subsidy which is keeping many families afloat.

A total of €70 million will be set aside by the regional government for social salaries throughout Andalucia this year in order to help the worst-off families.  A further €60 million will come from town halls as part of the Social Action Plan.