Working Abroad - Employment Advice In Spain

Jobs and employment on the Costa Blanca

The Council of Europe regulations forced Spain to end all restrictions on the free circulation of European Union workers as of January 1st, 1992 - which means that all EU citizens can work in Spain under the same conditions as Spaniards complete with employment contracts and employers contributions into the Spanish Social Security system on your behalf, giving both yourself and your dependants, access to the Spanish National Health Service. These rights extend even to family members who are non EU nationals.

For example, if a Briton working in Spain is married to, say - a US national, the non EU spouse will have full rights to residence and employment in Spain. In addition, children of foreign workers will have the same rights to trade school education and apprenticeship programmes run by the state as nationals of that State. All of these rights, and more, are set out in EU Regulation 1612/68, regarding the free circulation of workers within the European Union.

Article 5 of Title I of that Regulation also states that any EU foreigner looking for work in another EU country shall receive the same help from State employment offices as its nationals seeking work, they even mean that the foreign worker, should he/she lose his/her job in Spain for reasons beyond his/her control, providing they have paid sufficient sums into the Social Security system of the said State during their employment, can have access to unemployment payments - the Spanish dole, just like a Spanish worker.

If you are considering living permanently in Spain, you must register both yourself and any dependants with the local Police Station and obtain a NIE certificate (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjeros) - Foreigners Identification Number. This certificate should be carried on your person at all times, together with your passport or residents' permit.

Once you have this certificate, any EU national looking for employment should present himself to the nearest office of the INEM (Instituto Nacional de Empleo) - Unemployment Office, to register as a 'demandante de empleo' - unemployed. The only problem is - you must be able to speak at least a little Spanish as very few government departments will have an English translator on hand, and the staff will very quickly become short tempered with you if you expect to find employment with a Spanish company without at least being able to say good morning to the boss !

Once you have found employment, pay particular attention to your contract. Spanish companies are notorious for insisting that you are paid half in 'white' and half in 'black', which means only half of your salary is declared to the government saving the employer - not you - a large tax bill. Problems arise when you are not able to prove your earnings should you require a mortgage or a loan of any kind, or you loose your job and you find that insufficient funds have been paid into the Social Security System for you to draw unemployment benefit.

Should you be thinking of setting up your own business in Spain, don't expect things to be any clearer. You may have to battle through a lot of red tape to obtain the proper licenses and permits - even if you plan to work from home. Find yourself a 'gestor' - business advisor and don't try to do it yourself. The following is a guide of the steps you need to go through before you can sell your first 'widget' ! Not all of the items will be required in every case, but it gives you some idea of what's in store.

Title or degree - If you wish to practice medicine, architecture, gas fitter or any other business that requires a certain measure of safety, you must present your titles and certificates from the EU institutions you attended. If your titles are gained outside the EU they will have to undergo a lengthy verification process.

I.A.E (Impuesto de Actividades Economicas) - Business License or Tax on Economic Activities. This will need to be paid in advance and varies depending upon the type of business you intend to begin.

Registration with the Spanish Social Security as a trabajador autonomo - self employed person. It is illegal to work in Spain without paying into the Social Security system.

Licencia de Apertura - Opening License. If you plan to open business premises you will need this license from your local Ayuntamiento - Town Hall who will need to come along and make an inspection.

A written explanation (in Spanish, of course) of the activity you will carry out. Licenses are issued specifically to cover the specified activities and any diversifications will need to be re-submitted to the authorities - so make sure you include everything.

Title deed and lease contract for business premises.

If you are forming a limited company, the incorporation charter.

Any other permits relating to your special profession - such as a food handlers certificate should you be thinking of opening a restaurant.

For further information on this and other topics about living in Spain, visit Costa Blanca World.

Good Luck !

Karen Milacic is a graphic and web designer living as a British expat on the Costa Blanca for the past five years. Visit her other web sites at: http://www.villa-angels.com; http://www.thedesignbusiness.co.uk; http://www.costablanca- webhosting.com

---

One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss

Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high... Read More

Managing The Boss Is Essential To Career Success

Your boss is the gatekeeper of your career. Unless you... Read More

The Secrets to Interview Success

Many well qualified and extremely able candidates fail at job... Read More

How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs?

Do you think that there is a big sign that... Read More

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

Everyone dreams of a life full of love and adventure.... Read More

Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers

Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because... Read More

Writing A Great Resume, Part 1

Need a great resume to land that great job coming... Read More

When Your Job Goes Away: Seven Tips

Q. "What do I do after a job goes away?"A.... Read More

Why Should We Hire You?

This is one of those broad questions that can take... Read More

Rethink Your Career Transition

Are you going nowhere in your career? If you've decided... Read More

Genes and Work Ethic

If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they... Read More

Career Job Satisfaction - Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!

Get Off the Treadmill - Exit Your Rat Race!We can... Read More

Nuts and Bolts of Effective Cover Letters

As a job seeker, you shouldn't overlook the importance of... Read More

Personal Grooming: 8 Top Reasons Why You Can?t Take It For Granted In Your Career

Most people when they landed "the dream job" after an... Read More

Job Hunting Tips: Accepting Judgment

Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even... Read More

Telephone Phobia: Make the Phone Your Job Search Friend

You're pretty comfortable using the phone. It's something you do... Read More

Personality Testing; Myth and Realities

It is commonly believed myth that personality testing instruments can... Read More

Active Listening Skill Tips for Interviews

During a job interview, a potential employer asks, "Can you... Read More

Is Your Job Search Guided by the Controller or the Controllee?

I'll define what I mean by these terms. "The Controller"... Read More

What Not To Include In Your Resume

Do you have a difficult time determining what does not... Read More

Occupational Health and Safety - Stress and Workaholism at Work

There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the... Read More

The Top 10 Reasons to have a Career Coach

Many people in the last decade have experienced for themselves... Read More

The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done

Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More

Death By Workers Compensation

Excerpt of Death By Workers' Compensation"The Bleeding Rose"In this Excerpt... Read More

Cover Letters

Cover Letters: Are you telling them what they want to... Read More

The 6 Stages of Modern Career Development

Career experts say that people will change careers (not jobs)... Read More

What Recruiters Hate About Resumes And Cover Letters

Today, I'm going to share with you the awful truth... Read More

Troubleshooting Your Job Search

OK. You've posted your resume online. You've sent out a... Read More

Interview Tips - Ten Top Dos & Donts for Winning Interviews

In this day and age it can become increasingly difficult... Read More

Job! Money! Career!

Feel somehow your life is stuck in MS-OFFICE ? The... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II

In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More

Start Working Before You Get Hired

What if there were a way to *prove* to any... Read More

Medical Billing And Coding Profession

Medical billers and coders are in high demand among the... Read More