The Spanish government today tried to sell crucial labour reforms to sceptical opposition parties, while a major union promised to hold a general strike in protest over the package.

Madrid: Spanish Finance Minister Elena Salgado presents her plan for slashing the budget deficit by two-thirds, seeking to avoid the punishment investors have meted out to Greece.

Madrid: Spain’s govern-ment plans to change labour market rules to help the young and long-term unemployed and to reduce the highest temporary employment rate in Europe, Labour Minister Celestino Corbacho said.

Spain’s government defended a plan to fight soaring unemployment by shutting the door on foreign workers, fending off criticism that the idea is mean-spirited and futile.