Universal basic income to come into effect in Spain in May

The Spanish government is set to present its universal basic income scheme on Thursday, which, as has been agreed upon by Spanish president Pedro Sánchez and second vice president Pablo Iglesias, is expected to come into effect in May.

The new measure - one of the policies set out in the coalition agreement between Iglesias' Unidas Podemos and Sánchez's Socialists - is supposed to be ready "in weeks," according to Spanish minister of inclusion, social security and migration José Luis Escrivá.

On Wednesday, Escrivá explained that the Covid-19 pandemic had sped up the timings the cabinet had initially considered and that the measure would be implemented "as soon as possible," but that it was yet to be finalized as it must ensure that those who need the money the most will be the ones receiving it. 

The Spanish minister claimed that the new policy would benefit a million households throughout Spain, of which around 10% are thought to be single-parent families.