(BBC News) Spain's parliament has ratified labour reforms designed to bring down high unemployment.

Measures include promoting youth employment and cutting the cost of firing workers, which critics say makes employers reluctant to hire more staff.

Changes to the labour law follow spending cuts introduced last month in a bid to cut the large budget deficit.

For further details, see the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/europe/10385834.stm