People queue to receive donated food from volunteers of Vecinos Parque Aluche association as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Madrid, Spain, May 16, 2020. REUTERS/Susana Vera
May 18, 2020
MADRID (Reuters) – The Spanish cabinet is due to approve next week a programme to grant a basic income to the poorest to help them weather the economic fallout from the coronavirus epidemic, Social Security Minister Jose Luis Escriva said on Monday.
The minister said in an interview with RNE radio station the cabinet would approve the programme, probably during the weekly cabinet meeting scheduled on May 26.
He said as many as 1 million families would receive the new benefit, which would cost the government between 3 billion euros and 3.5 billion euros per year.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Alex Richardson)
