Several protests by sectors affected by Covid-19 restrictions in Barcelona

Several rallies took place in Barcelona on Wednesday, to denounce new restrictions and the delays in benefit allocations by Spain's Employment Service (SEPE). 

One of the demonstrations was called by The Union of Catalan Sports Federations (UEFC), who demanded sports be allowed to take place again.

Estimates say nearly 1,400 people gathered at 1 pm in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona, outside the Catalan government headquarters, to decry measures stopping sports activities. These came into force on October 30.

Organizers stated that sport was an essential service and that only 0.28% of infections in Spain could be traced to sports events.

It was also stressed that exercise could be a "solution" in that it would aid both mental and physical health.

They also demanded competitions be allowed to take place and that immediate action was needed to save the sector.

Gerard Esteva, president of the UEFC, said that the government should realize that "most of the country’s sports institutions are in ICU" and they "need direct and effective help now."

Anna Pruna, president of Indescat (a Catalan sport’s association) and ex-general secretary of sports, mentioned that out of the 80,000 people employed by the exercise industry, 55,000 were currently relying on the temporary redundancy scheme ('ERTO' is the Catalan acronym). 

Following the demonstration, the leaders of the rally met with Meritxell Budó, the Catalan government spokesperson, and handed over a list of sports sector demands. 

Protests throughout Barcelona

Other protests also took place in Barcelona and throughout Catalonia today. 

The nightclub industry protested outside various SEPE delegations. Around 100 people gathered at Barcelona's Estació del Nord.

Participants denounced issues in the ERTO system and the labor department's problems in paying freelance workers.

At 12 pm the beauty sector, joined by other sectors such as leisure and hospitality, demonstrated on Avinguda Maria Cristina in the Catalan capital, demanding to be able to reopen their businesses. 

These are not the first protests to come about from the new measures. At the end of October, taxis drove slowly through the main roads of Barcelona to decry the curfew, while restaurants and nightlife firm owners and employees have also held several demonstrations in the past few weeks.