Multas de hasta 600 € para los locales de hostelería que no sepan atender en catalán

"Fines of up to 600 euros for (bars/restaurants/hotels) that can't attend in Catalan"

The Generalitat have put into operation an inspection of hostelries in tourist areas to ensure they have at least one person who can attend to clients in Catalan. If not then the establishment is liable to a fine of up to 600 euros. The establishment must also have signing/labelling, menus and complaints forms available in Catalan.

Full article here:
http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/457312/0/hosteleria/catalan/lengua/

Also...

El Parlamento Europeo rechaza el derecho a elegir la lengua de educación de los hijos

"The European parliament rejects the right to elect the language of education of children"
They say that it is essential to preserve 'multiliguism' in zones where there are more than one official language.
More here:
http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/459012/0/parlamento/europa/catalan/

It gets better(!)
Los multados por usar el castellano podrán denunciar "acoso lingüístico" en una web

Those fined for using Castellano will be able to report "Linguistic harrasment" on the web
A web site has been set up to report incidents of Linguistic Harrasment by the Generalitat of businesses and commercial enterprises who only use Castellano in their workplace:
http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/460233/0/acoso/linguistico/ciutadans/

And finally (?)
Multas para los imigrantes y extranjeros que no tiene un nivel basico en catalán

"Fines for immigrants and foreigners who don't have a basic level of Catalan"

Fines are being introduced (the amount to be determined) for foreigners who don't have a basic level of Catalan.  The Generalitat offer free courses of Catalan to all foreigners and a minimum level of 'Nivel Basico 1' (Basic level 1) will be needed to avoid the fine.

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/460255/0/multa/linguistico/extranjeros/

Interesting - I didn't think that the Catalans celebrated April Fool's Day, Nigel !!   ;D

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/460255/0/multa/linguistico/extranjeros/

Can anyone please translate this as I can't read a flippin word of it ? ;D

Hi
The Catalans do have a day for pranks and practical jokes like our April fools day but  it isn't in April. Can't actually remember the date though,sorry.
Bruixot

Yes they certainly do, its the 28th December and it's called 'Dia de los inocentes' - it's the whole of Spain, not just Cataluña.
Interestingly in France April fools (also on April 1st) is called 'poisson d'avril' - or April Fish.

wrote on Apr 1^st, 2009 at 9:34am:

Multas de hasta 600 € para los locales de hostelería que no sepan atender en catalán "Fines of up to 600 euros for (bars/restaurants/hotels) that can't attend in Catalan" The Generalitat have put into operation an inspection of hostelries in tourist areas to ensure they have at least one person who can attend to clients in Catalan. If not then the establishment is liable to a fine of up to 600 euros. The establishment must also have signing/labelling, menus and complaints forms available in Catalan. Full article here: http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/457312/0/hosteleria/catalan/lengua/ Also... El Parlamento Europeo rechaza el derecho a elegir la lengua de educación de los hijos "The European parliament rejects the right to elect the language of education of children" They say that it is essential to preserve 'multiliguism' in zones where there are more than one official language. More here: http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/459012/0/parlamento/europa/catalan/ It gets better(!) Los multados por usar el castellano podrán denunciar "acoso lingüístico" en una web Those fined for using Castellano will be able to report "Linguistic harrasment" on the web A web site has been set up to report incidents of Linguistic Harrasment by the Generalitat of businesses and commercial enterprises who only use Castellano in their workplace: http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/460233/0/acoso/linguistico/ciutadans/ And finally (?) Multas para los imigrantes y extranjeros que no tiene un nivel basico en catalán "Fines for immigrants and foreigners who don't have a basic level of Catalan" Fines are being introduced (the amount to be determined) for foreigners who don't have a basic level of Catalan.  The Generalitat offer free courses of Catalan to all foreigners and a minimum level of 'Nivel Basico 1' (Basic level 1) will be needed to avoid the fine. http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/460255/0/multa/linguistico/extranjeros/

And pray tell me kind Sir how the latter will be policed? In this last month I have dealt with 2 different Specialists who spoke impeccable English and Castellano and admitted to not knowing one word in Catalan. One was from Argentina and the other one from Cuba.
Besides can this Nivel Basico 1 be done online?
(Aside: I hope they ask my mother - bless her , she is often on planet Zog!)

Does 'foreigners' relate to tourists?  

It will be interesting to see all the stag and hen parties flooding into Reus airport to complete a 'Catalan' test before departing for Salou!!......