Spain has asked the European Commission for financial assistance to help 2,157 redundant employees find new permanent jobs.

The economic crisis is said to have severely impacted the country's construction sector and, as a result, workers in the joinery, ceramics and carpentry sectors lost their sources of income.

Spain is the second-largest producer of ceramics in the EU and about one-fifth of the jobs in Castellon de la Plana - where the industry is mainly based - are in this market.

Moreover, over half of the wooden doors made in Spain are constructed in Castilla La Mancha, in which two small municipalities have been affected hugely at a local level by the redundancies.

It is hoped, therefore, that the funding will help these jobless people by providing them with various types of training, work experience, mobility allowances and guidance.

Laszlo Andor, EU commissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion, explained: "All sectors directly related to building and particularly companies supplying materials, have seen demand plummet.

"The planned measures will help these workers update their skills."

The money is set to come from the EU Globalization Adjustment Fund, which also recently helped unemployed people in Ireland.

Posted by Sarah Dixon