December's "bridge" vacation falls off calendar

Business leaders and labor unions have reached an agreement that will do away with the December "macropuente," the several-day midweek mini-vacation traditionally enjoyed by Spaniards in the first week of December for Constitution Day on the 6th, followed by a holiday commemorating the religious Feast of the Immaculate Conception on the 8th, with a "bridge" day in between.

The agreement is the first in an attempt to hammer out an overarching labor reform before a government deadline set for January 7. If the Labor Ministry approves the agreement, three holidays will be moved to Mondays next year. Initially, these will be the August 15, November 1 and December 8 holidays.

In a side agreement, business leaders also approved a moderate increase in salaries in 2013 and 2014.

In a separate development, the new Popular Party Cabinet on Friday plans to freeze the minimum wage at 14 yearly payments of 641.40 euros each, the Labor Ministry told the unions CCOO and UGT in a letter. This will be the first time that the minimum salary has not risen since its inception in 1980.

Angry union leaders and opposition parties noted that Spain already ranks third from last on the list of European countries with an official minimum wage.