SPAIN is preparing for the easing of lockdown restrictions with ambitious plans to implement a universal basic income (UBI), more flexible and home working arrangements to avoid post-pandemic rush hours and a gradual introduction of its blueprint for de-escalation – the Plan for the Transition towards a New Normality.

Social and economic support measures will be put in place to help the country’s most vulnerable people and households hit by the suspension of economic activity.

The blueprint said the implementation of a UBI “should constitute an intrinsic part of the social aspect of the de-escalation plan”.

Rural areas will also be given special treatment because of the high risk of contagion in them – despite them having less in the way of public and private services.

However, the plan sees this as one way of spreading assistance to individuals and families, which has tended to be concentrated in urban areas.

It recognises that among people with precarious jobs who are worst-hit by losing employment during the pandemic are women, who also faced particular threats – including inequality and gender violence – and the youngest members of the country’s workforce.

“It is vital that the root causes of precariousness be addressed,” said the blueprint.

“With a view to mitigating poverty of this nature, the Government of Spain is working on implementing a UBI scheme – which will guarantee an income for the most vulnerable people – as well as on other measures aimed at promoting decent work, facilitating access to housing, and safeguarding essential supplies and services.”

Details of the plan emerged as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appeared before the Spanish parliament to garner support for a fourth two-week extension to the state of emergency that allowed his government to apply a strict lockdown that has reined in the Covid-19 outbreak.

It appeared last night that his fragile coalition would have support for the extension, despite him losing the backing of the main opposition party.

Sanchez told MPs his government would declare a national period of mourning for the more than 28,500 deaths it has suffered in the pandemic.

Spanish health authorities yesterday reported 244 new deaths over the 24 hours into Wednesday, taking the total death toll to 25,857.

The figures – in line with the overall slowdown of the outbreak in Spain – do not include thousands more who have died in nursing homes before they could be tested.

Spain also reported that its total number of confirmed infections has passed 253,000.

Meanwhile, Catalan President Quim Torra has said an independent Catalonia would have responded to the coronavirus pandemic in “a more agile, different, adapted and fast way”.

Speaking at the inauguration of a virtual market in Barcelona, dedicated to the resurrection of the economy after the health crisis, Torra said: “From the government we will squeeze all our powers. This is where we have found the lack of tools that a state would provide us.

“We could have done more, everything we have asked the state to do.”

Torra also called for Catalonia’s 16 billion euro (£14bn) share of a recovery fund for the autonomous communities.

He said: “It would have been very different if we had been responsible for our resources.

“This is about sovereignty.”