Hospitality bosses claim 300,000 jobs at risk due to Spain's new smoking bans

Spain's new Anti-Smoking Bill aims to expand smoke-free areas to include the terraces of bars, restaurants, and other food service establishments, as well as beaches, public swimming pools, and even inside work vehicles.

The legislation, which still needs parliamentary approval, has stirred up controversy within sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

"This is a matter of awareness, education, and respect. The word 'prohibition' only brings confrontation," points out José Luis Álvarez Almeida, president of Hostelería de España (the Spanish Hospitality Association), who reaffirms the sector's commitment to the health of its customers and the reduction of harmful practices such as smoking.

SOS Hostelería (the Spanish Hospitality Association) has put figures on the impact this type of prohibition would have on its business: the closure of more than 30,000 bars and the loss of 300,000 jobs.

This group has stressed that outdoor seating can account for between 30 and 50 percent of revenue and added that half of all hospitality establishments have a terrace.

For his part, the head of Hostelería de España said that "terraces are open-air, well-ventilated spaces that guarantee coexistence between smokers and non-smokers."

Spain nominates its Labour Minister for UN work body

Spain's leftists government has decided to put forward the candidacy of Second Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz to run for the Director-General position at the International Labour Organization (ILO).

This is the specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting decent work, labour rights and social justice worldwide.

Díaz, who is part of the ruling Socialists' junior coalition partner in government, the hard-left party Sumar, has introduced major labour improvements focused on curbing job insecurity, raising pay, and expanding worker protections in Spain.

Her key reforms include the 2021 landmark labour market overhaul, substantial minimum wage increases, and pioneering digital and cultural worker rights.

Ford and Geely to form joint venture at struggling Valencia plant

US carmaker Ford and China's Geely will create a joint venture at Ford's troubled Valencia plant in eastern Spain, where they plan to produce four new models for the European market, the companies said on Thursday.

Ford will hold a 66 percent stake in the venture and Geely the remaining 34 percent, the two companies said in a statement about the project which was presented at the plant in Valencia.

The plant will continue producing Ford's Kuga plug-in hybrid without interruption, with production from 2028 of a new Ford Bronco, two Geely electric SUVs and a new multi-energy family crossover designed by Ford and jointly developed with Geely.

The partnership will allow the two automakers to reduce production costs at the Valencia site, which assembled fewer than 100,000 vehicles in 2025, its lowest output on record, according to the UGT Ford trade union.

In the longer term, Ford and Geely said the plant could reach an annual production capacity of around 500,000 vehicles.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed the agreement during a visit to the factory, saying it demonstrated Spain's ability to attract major investment and take part in the transformation of the automotive sector.

Top Spanish YouTubers fined over covert advertising

Three of Spain's best-known YouTubers have been fined for failing to make sufficiently clear that their content was commercial, the country's competition watchdog said Thursday.

YouTubers Ibai, Jordi Wild and Nachter received fines ranging from €710 to nearly €1,800 ($810-$2,000) for failing to clearly identify commercial content, inadequate safeguards for minors and the promotion of medicines without meeting specific advertising requirements, the CNMC said in a statement.

"Users must be able to know, in a simple way, when they are viewing commercial communication," it said, adding that advertising must be distinguishable from editorial content.

Streamer and YouTuber star Ibai Llanos, known online as Ibai, was fined 710 euros for promoting a drink brand during videos broadcast on X from a sporting event without making clear that the content was advertising.

The fines come as Spanish authorities tighten scrutiny of influencer marketing, with social media personalities increasingly subject to rules traditionally applied to television and other advertising channels.

With additional reporting by AFP.