The Federation of the Spanish Footwear Industry (FICE) demands that the Labor Inspectorate stop putting barriers around the temporary number of permanent workers in the footwear industry. As FICE lawyer José María Escrigas explains, “there are deep concerns in the industry about the problems that discontinuous permanent contracts create in companies and the negative consequences this has for the competitiveness and survival of companies.”
FICE secretary general Marián Cano warns that this extreme situation in which companies find themselves will inevitably result in layoffs.
“Over the last few years, companies in the footwear industry have faced constant increases in labor costs. These excessive increases have seriously damaged our ability to compete in an increasingly difficult market. The resulting loss of competitiveness threatens the existence of our companies and jeopardizes the employment of thousands of workers; “In fact, there is already a steady stream of layoffs,” he points out.
The government’s policy of discontinuous fixed contracts removes the flexibility a shoe company needs to adapt to changing seasons. “The imposition of restrictions and strict regulations hinders our ability to manage seasonal cycles efficiently and profitably, which puts our survival in an increasingly volatile and demanding market at risk,” says Escrigas. “If the government insists on implementing these policies, we face a worrying “We are forced to face the reality: layoffs and factory closures. This will negatively affect not only the shoe industry, but also the general economy and the regions where our factories are located.”
FICE secretary general speaks along the same lines, pointing out: “We call on the government to think and re-evaluate these labor policies that seriously affect our industry, because we must not forget that the proposal to reduce the working day also seriously harms companies. “We are going through a difficult period due to the decline in consumption and the international geopolitical situation,” he said.
“We strongly urge that a constructive dialogue be encouraged between all parties involved to find solutions that will promote a balance between the protection of workers and the need to maintain the competitiveness and flexibility that our industry demands,” Cano concluded.