MADRID, April 8 (Reuters) - The Spanish government's ERTEfurlough scheme for people unable to work because ofrestrictions imposed on businesses to curb the COVID-19 pandemicwill be extended beyond May 31, Labour Minister Yolanda Diazsaid on Thursday.

Workers from small and medium-sized companies have benefitedthe most from the scheme, Diaz said in a speech in Madrid.

"We will keep doing that from May 31, in a similar formulato the current one," she added, without detailing for how long.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Belen Carreno, editing byAndrei Khalip) ((Inti.Landauro@thomsonreuters.com;))