The Ministry of Labor considers that the 4% increase in the interprofessional minimum wage that it proposes is “sufficiently balanced” to reach an agreement with unions and employers, and warns the latter that, if it does not agree, the increase will ultimately be ” more ambitious.”
The Ministry of Labor wants to close the agreement as soon as possible to increase the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI), and wants this increase to be no less than 4% in 2024. Thus, it has warned the CEOE that, if it does not agree, the rise at the end will be “more ambitious“. The employers propose an increase of 3%, while the unions want the increase to be 5%.
This has been explained by the Secretary of State for Employment, Joaquin Perez Reyin statements to the media before meeting with social agents with the aim of closing an increase in the SMI by 2024. The objective, according to Pérez Rey, is to reach an agreement “in which everyone is involved.”
In this sense, he has indicated that he is willing to do “everything possible so that today the social agents say yes to us, exploring all avenues.” Considers that this agreement will guarantee that the 2.5 million workers, mostly women, who receive the SMI do not lose purchasing power and will allow them to continue complying with the European social charter, which says that the SMI must account for 60% of the average wage.
“If we do not reach an agreement around 4%, if the employers do not agree to sign an agreement, the Government will disassociate itself from the figure and will try to agree with unions on an increase in the SMI that will no longer be at 4%.” “The increase will be more ambitious if the employers do not sign the agreement,” he stated.
The meeting ended without an agreement, and negotiations will resume on Thursday or Friday of this week. The Spanish Government’s intention is for the increase in the SMI to be cleared this week, with the aim of it being approved this January and having retroactive effects from January 1.
Source: Eitb

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