Spain's labour unions have threatened to launch a general strike if labour reforms contained in the $18bn austerity package, which the parliament passed on Thursday, are implemented.<br /><br />Many fear the spending cuts will exacerbate the country's job situation, which suffers from a 20 per cent unemployment rate.<br /><br />But Jose Luis Rodreguez Zapatero, the country's prime minister, insists that the measures are vital to bring under control the country's alarming budget deficit.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports.<br /><br />[May 27, 2010]
