Congress approves the reform of the Science Law: "Crises have to be faced with more knowledge and research."

• Headquarters Congress asks to consider "small cities" for the Spanish Space Agency

The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, has celebrated the "very broad consensus" that there has been with the project to reform the Law of Science, Technology and Innovation, approved this Thursday in the Congress of Deputies by 261 votes in favor (PSOE, PODEMOS, PP, ERC and Cs) and 59 abstentions (Vox, PNV, Junts, BNG and CUP).

"This law has been very discussed with the actors of the investigation system, also very worked with the political groups, gathers a very broad consensus. It is practically a parliamentary anomaly", the minister, who told him has dedicated the law to scientists.

Morant has reminded those who have had to leave Spain in the last decade because "their country turned its back on them": "We are talking about an entire generation, the most talented in the history of Spain, with the most merits, that did not have space in our country because the recipe for cutbacks and austerity did not allow science to have a place in our country".

Amendments and private votes

As it passed through the plenary session, the last step in Congress, two amendments presented by the deputy for Más País-Equo Íñigo Errejón were approved, although they did not have the support of the government partners, which is why they

as well as so that, in the application of the Basic Statute of the Public Employee to the investigation staff, unique regulations can be issued to adapt it to their peculiarities.

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Galicia In Common has also been approved.

that were exempt from this contracting modality.

According to Podemos sources, this ensures that the labor reform is an effective reality for this research staff, including the entire public system, universities, OPis and foundations, something that is a matter of "justice" for training.

Citing data from CC.OO, the purples point out that this amendment will reduce temporary employment to less than half.

For example

The Socialists finally withdrew two particular votes that they presented against two amendments added to the text in previous parliamentary procedures that did not have their support, referring to stabilizing university research personnel and linking public spending on R&D to GDP, and which remain in the norm.

During the proceedings of the Presentation and Commission that precede the debate of the text in the plenary session of the Lower House, eleven new amendments and seven transactional ones of the more than 400 presented by the parliamentary groups were approved.

For this reason, throughout its processing, some changes have been incorporated, such as allowing indefinite contracts to be concluded with people with experience and skills in accordance with the position, regardless of their level of training.

A law to fix the system

The Government, as Morant pointed out, "is clear" that

"They have to be generated in our country, we don't have to be buyers of innovation," she defended.

At this point, he has indicated that, beyond "historical" Budgets for science, a law "that would fix the system" was necessary.

Thus, he has affirmed that the law approved this Thursday "fixes the system, fixes the failures that existed against the scientific career, giving more rights to the research staff."

Specifically, Morant has highlighted that researchers now have compensation "that they did not have" and have recognized a "stable and predictable" career, in addition to reducing bureaucratic burdens, one of the "big complaints" of Spanish researchers.

Precariousness

Previously, Morant has intervened in the plenary session in which the new regulation has finally been approved, where he has maintained that the law "has great advances and strengths, tackles precariousness with a new indefinite contract, improves the working conditions of young researchers and reduces administrative burdens in justifying aid".

For the minister, the "most important value" of the norm is that it is a text "that is born from dialogue", since it is a law "participated, agreed upon and worked on by all".

In her words, she brings "great advances and strengths", reinforces social aspects, with advances in gender equality and conciliation, protecting diversity and acting against harassment.

"We give impetus to science and innovation by connecting our system with Europe and the world after a decade of setbacks and cuts. The quality of Spanish science depends on our ability to attract and retain our own", he concluded.

Creation of the Space Agency

Among other measures, the text guarantees stable and growing funding for R&D&i to approach the countries of the European Union and

.

On the other hand, the rule provides for the creation of the Spanish Space Agency, which would take place one year after the law comes into force.

The future law includes a postdoctoral itinerary for "stable incorporation into the system".

Thus, for postdoctoral fellows who want to access the system, the duration of the contract will be between 3 and 6 years, with extensions of at least one year.

In addition, it establishes that situations of "temporary disability, birth, adoption, guardianship for the purpose of adoption, foster care, risk during pregnancy or risk during lactation, gender-based or terrorist violence", will interrupt the calculation of the term limit of the contract. as well as its evaluation.

According to this new contract model, research staff with a postdoctoral contract at public universities, Public Research Organizations (OPI), foundations or public consortiums, will be able to opt for an evaluation of the research activity from the end of the second year of the contract, in order to achieve stabilization in the system, that is, that after having passed said evaluation, the research staff will obtain a certification as "established researcher", which will also lead to salary improvements.

In addition, passing this test will exempt them from taking parts of the tests to access the public system, and a minimum of 15% of the replacement rate will be reserved for this type of contract in the Public Job Offers (OPE) in the universities. and 25% in OPI.

For this type of contract, it proposes compensation for the end of the contract.

In this case, the researcher will have the right to receive "compensation of an amount equivalent to that provided for fixed-term contracts in article 49 of the revised text of the Workers' Statute Law".

On the other hand, a new indefinite contract is incorporated for "all types of research personnel" who carry out scientific-technical activities.

This type of contract may be linked to the existence of external financing or financing from calls for public aid in competitive competition associated with them during their validity, but "they will not form part of the Public Employment Offer".

Like postdoctoral researchers, it also recognizes the right to compensation for predoctoral researchers, a measure that will also be retroactive.

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