English in Madrid

Source:  Mikael Stenberg on Unsplash Parity in paternity and maternity leave approved by Spanish parliament  People’s party, expected to form a minority government soon, opposes the measure saying it will significantly increase costs  Paid paternity leave in Spain is to be increased to 16 weeks to give men parity with women, under new measures agreed by parliament. Fathers are currently entitled to 13 consecutive days off work, starting two days prior to the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. This increases to 20 days if the family is large – with three or more children – or if the child is born with a disability. Under existing arrangements, 10 weeks of maternity leave can be transferred to the father, an option taken up by less than 2% of men. Under the new law, maternity and paternity leave will not be transferable. The proposal was put forward by the anti-austerity Podemos party on the grounds that both the Spanish constitution and Eu...

Source: Rendy Novantino on Unsplash Ikea bans 'illegal' blind-dating group from store cafeteria in Shanghai  Many are divorcees or people living alone after the death of a partner   Ikea has banned an elderly   matchmaking group from one of its restaurants in China unless it agrees to start paying up . The Swedish retailer has told its cafeteria in Shanghai to stop anyone hav ing a seat unless they buy food. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for years, hundreds of elderly people have flooded into the restaurant to meet friends and potential partners, according to China Daily. Many are divorcees or people living alone after the death of a partner and the café gave them a chance to meet peers free of charge . Despite a 700-seat capacity the venue was often overcapacity, but since the change crowds have shrunk by as much as half. The “no food, no seat” rule came into force following complaints that paying customers were unable to sit at a ...