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AT LEAST 40,000 jobs have been saved in Alicante Province for the time being, after the national government extended the ERTE furlough scheme until the end of January. The news came on Tuesday as around 600 vehicles took to the streets of Benidorm to demand the extension with thousands of local tourism and hospitality jobs on the line. The motorcade was led by a tourist bus with a banner proclaiming ‘ERTE OR DEATH’. The Valencian Business Federation(CEV) says that 27,567 workers are currently getting ERTE benefits. They estimate that an extra 12,500 people across Alicante Province will be able to claim as the area moves into the ‘low’ tourist season. The scheme, which was launched in
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Vol. 1 Issue 24 www.theolivepress.es October 1st - October 14th 2020
By Alex Trelinski
March, was scheduled to end yesterday (September 30) but will now run until at least January 31. A last-minute deal between the government and trade unions saw authorities climb down over plans to drastically cut help to struggling tourist-related and hospitality businesses. CEV president, Salvador Navarro, said: “Common sense has prevailed and the effect on the Alicante Province economy would have been barbaric.” Payments to laid-off staff will be kept at 70% and new benefits will start for short-term seasonal workers who would not normally qualify for unemployment benefits. Business owners will have their social
security contributions subsidised on a sliding scale of up to 100% depending on their size and the time of the year. Speaking to the Olive Press, San Fulgencio councillor, Darren Parmenter said: “This is excellent news as so many businesses in the area, including ones owned by expats, are related to tourism including bars and restaurants. This will help them get through the winter.” Though the ERTE extension has been universally welcomed, calls have already started for more to be done. Nuria Montes from the Benidormbased Costa Blanca Hotels Association (Hosbec) said: “We need payments to continue until we can return to normality and that means ERTE running until June and the start of the summer season.”
Fatal hug Tragic friends fell to deaths while taking a selfie
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TWO British holidaymakers plunged 30 feet to their deaths while hugging to take a selfie, an inquest has heard. The Olive Press has previously reported that Daniel Mee, 25, and Jayden Dolman, 20, died after the fall in Punta Prima, Orihuela in July 2019. Now an inquest in the UK has thrown more light on the tragic incident. The friends were taking a selfie along the seafront when they lost their balance and plunged over a railing onto the rocky beach below. Mee was killed instantly when he landed on a beach hut.
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Best pal Dolman was rushed to hospital in Torrevieja but died from his injuries shortly after. The inquest into the death of Mee, held in the pair’s hometown of Taunton, Somerset has revealed eye witness reports of the incident from their friend, Lewis Higgins who was at the scene at the time. “Jayden and Daniel were walking from the villa to the nearest beach,” he said. “They were taking pictures while they were walking. Daniel embraced Jayden. I saw them both close to the railings. Then they fell.” Toxicology report found that the alcohol level in Mee’s blood was 215mg, three times over the drink drive limit. The coroner pointed out that the three young men were simply having a good time, saying they ‘were walking not driving.’ “The pair had been drinking during the day, and unfortunately this was a large factor in the accident,” said Tony Williams, Somerset coroner. He added: “Daniel and Jayden are hugging close to the railings and during that, they have lost balance, they have gone over the railings and unfortunately fallen over where there is a steep drop of nine metres on the other side.” Official cause of death for
TRAGEDY: Jayden Dolman (left) and Daniel Mee were best friends Daniel was a severe head injury caused by the fall. Dolman’s body was not repatriat-
ed back to the UK for a coroner’s inquest. A Guardia Civil inquiry
alongside the British coroner’s report ruled the deaths as accidental.