On March 27, Friday, the Spanish government approved measures to stop the firing of workers by companies in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Minister of labor Yolanda Díaz from the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) declared that companies cannot use the health crisis as an excuse to fire workers and directed that only the temporary layoff programs under the Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTEs) may be used by employers.Through the ERTEs, companies may still temporarily suspend contracts of employment or reduce working hours for reasons derived from unavoidable circumstances or economic, technical, organizational or production reasons.