Hi Jacky.
There is a minimum wage in Spain, if you can call it that, but as far as I know the National rate that applies is further altered by collective bargaining agreements within the various trade unions....it is one of the lowest in the EU and at this present time is between 400 euros and 700 euros per month"¦it is tied to the welfare benefits in Spain....

Spain does not have a National minimum wage like the UK

That's what I meant, sorry.
Again, as far as I know, each sector of workers are still able to negotiate the "minimum" rate, hence the difference between €400 and €700 per month.
While the minimum wage is low, higher minumum rates are set by collective agreements covering 85% of workers, for example, the "textile agreement" sets the minimum wage 30% above the minimum wage, but, it is still way way below ours.
The minumum wage was supposed to stop the pay discrepancies between male and female employee's.

In certain sectors, women in Spain are still waiting for that to happen.
Sorry, Off topic and the last word....I promise

Sanji

Here in estepona in the costa del sol it is not neccessary to become a Spanish national to benefit from the spanish NHS. it may be neccessary to become a Spanish resident. In order for the authorities to collect money from the Government it is not neccessary to do either . All that is required is to register with the local government and have your details put on the "Padron". this costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Anecdotal evidence suggests that as has been previously stated that aftercare is poor but major problems are treated excellently. if anybody comes here to live as opposed to come on holiday then they or their husband/wife must have a job here to get free treatment. UK pensioners also qualify for free treatment

First of all, I have been reading these posts and see people again confusing spanish citizenship, with residency. It is not an easy thing to become a spanish citizen, not least that you have to have a certain length of residency (last time I looked it was 8 years). To be eligible for the spanish health service, as jacky says, you have to be resident, and paying into the system. As I am a resident of the canaries, I am not eligible for NHS treatment in UK which I fully accept. With regard to pensions, here you have to have 15 years of working legally under your belt before you get your pension. However, although I have been working under contract since 1999, I have so far accrued only 2 years 3 weeks and 9 days pension