Jobless paid to return home

SPAIN yesterday agreed to pay jobless immigrants to go home in an attempt to cut social services spending as its once-booming economy goes bust.

The plan targets 165,000 non-EU citizens who have been laid off and are entitled to unemployment benefit.

It offers them a lump sum payment of 40% of the benefit once they renounce their work and residency permits, and the remainder once they get home.