Jesús Manuel García (pictured) has been unable to get work since being made redundant, and his wife earns just 500 euros a month – leaving them with only 200 euros to live on after their 300-euro mortgage payment is taken out.

He will reach the Congress buildings on Monday and will not go back to Málaga until he has handed in a letter asking ministers for work.

“If all goes well and I can find someone to let me in and deliver the letter in person to the government ministers, then I'll be heading back Monday by car or train,” says the 38-year-old.

“If it doesn't, I'll wait as many days as I can until they do – I'm not going anywhere until I've handed over the letter.”

Jesús, who has two children aged 14 and 17, lost his job and his dole money ran out before he could find another.

He has been working as much as he can as a builder, gardener and painter since then, but only the bare minimum and nothing that comes close to a real income.