Live News From Spain As It Happens

 Spain's conservative government faced its first mass protests on Sunday as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demonstrate against austerity, spending cuts and radical changes to labour rights.

Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square filled for the first time since the "indignant" protesters camped there last May, as people gathered to protest against reforms introduced by prime minister Mariano Rajoy's government.

Protesters also marched through Valencia, capital of a heavily indebted and corruption-plagued region run by Rajoy's People's party, and Barcelona. Unions claimed more than half a million people demonstrated across the country.

Read more at Guardian.co.uk

How the staff of British Consulates in Spain help citizens in distress is to be highlighted in a new TV documentary series to be broadcast next month on Channel 4 in the UK. The new TV series, filmed last summer, reveals how consular staff come to the rescue of Britons who find themselves in trouble. From helping victims of crime to advising Brits arrested by the police, the series also follows consular staff as they visit holidaymakers who end up in hospital and meet expat residents to hear their property concerns. In a three part series,

Our Man In…, provides unprecedented access to the work of British consular staff. It will be shown on Channel 4 on the following Thursdays in March: 1, 8 and 15 at 10.pm GMT (11.pm.Central European time). The first programme features Mallorca and Ibiza, the second follows the team in Alicante and the third covers Tenerife and Barcelona.

The series shows the hard work and professionalism of our staff in helping British expats and holidaymakers as well as highlighting the serious issues that Brits can face abroad, stated Paul Rodwell, the British Consul in Alicante. Some of the less serious cases can be avoided and I would encourage people to read our travel advice and have a look at the information we have on our ukinspain website.”The series reveals the consequences of failing to prepare properly for a holiday.

Even if you are staying with friends and family, travelling without insurance could cost you many thousands of pounds if you are injured abroad.Losing your passport will cost you time and money, stated Mr Rodwell. And without an EHIC health card, you’ll find it harder to get medical care. By taking a few simple precautions, you can avoid a dream holiday turning into a nightmare.

The programme in Alicante -- about life on the Costas -- shows the pro-active face of the consulate, with staff seeking out Brits caught up in a forest fire, organising outreach events to hear the worries of residents, and working with local police to manage an invasion of Scottish football fans for a big game against Spain.

Spanish Labour Minister Fatima Banez defended the conservative government's labour reforms on Sunday after unions called for mass protests over the measures, which they say will destroy jobs.

"These are reforms that will increase flexibility so that, faced with difficulties, businesses can adapt to the economic reality and so that lay-offs can be a measure of last resort," she said in an interview with the ABC daily.

"Obviously, the rights of workers will remain intact," she said, adding that she hoped the reforms would put the brakes on the "haemorrhaging" labour market.

The interview came a day after Spain's two biggest unions called for nationwide protests on February 19 to protest the reforms that they say will destroy jobs.

Spain's conservative government on Friday slashed employees' maximum severance pay as part of sweeping labour reforms to confront a jobless rate of nearly 23 percent. Youth unemployment stands at nearly 50 percent.

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