The signing of the V Employment and Collective Bargaining Agreement (AENC) between CEOE, Cepyme and the unions UGT and CC OO marks a renewal phase for wages and workplace standards. In Alicante, the impact depends on how the first quarter unfolds, but the agreement aims to set a framework for salary updates in the near term. While the treaty originally proposes a 4% wage increase for the current cycle, with an additional 3% for 2023 and 2024 and the possibility of a further 1% adjustment tied to inflation, the actual contracts registered between January and March show an average rise of 2.51%, below the national average of 3.06% for 2023. This gap suggests the deal could accelerate salary updates from now on.
Although adherence to the AENC is voluntary rather than mandatory, it serves as a negotiation baseline for pending agreements and acts as a guide to raise wages for thousands of workers in non-unionized companies. The late-year signing, however, introduces certain disruptions. Many workers covered by contracts already signed may see increases this year below the recommended 4% due to timing and sector-specific dynamics.
The province records a total of 184,442 workers under contracts registered up to March. Within this group, some will not receive the full 4% but can still gain if inflation rates rise. National statistics show about 26% of professionals nationwide are guaranteed a pre-agreed increase, implying that a portion of Alicante residents could see adjustments that depend on the specific employer-union agreement. This figure does not yet include deals signed in April and May.
The situation is nuanced. Salvador Navarro, president of the autonomous employers association CEV, argues that existing deals should be honored and that new terms should not be demanded for closed contracts. At the same time, Yolanda Díaz, general secretary of UGT in l’Alacantí-la Marina, and Francisco García of CC OO see room to revisit terms in sectors where earnings have improved markedly with the economic upturn. AENC remains widely applicable for three years, meaning workers can benefit in the near term and into the future.
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Beyond the initial figures, the existence of AENC is viewed as stabilizing for social peace and worker purchasing power while preserving company competitiveness. Salvador Navarro summarizes the sentiment: the agreement should raise wages to defend living costs but must be adaptable to diverse business realities. As a recommendation rather than a universal rule, not every enterprise will implement the same changes at once.
Alongside the baseline 4%, unions expect 3% more in 2023 and 2024, though progress will vary by sector. Yolanda Díaz of UGT notes that the agreement will guide future increases, while Francisco García of CC OO emphasizes the need to act promptly given the economic context.
In practice, some sectors have already closed deals above the national recommendation. For example, the footwear trade has approved a 4.5% rise for 2023, and the food wholesale sector has approved 6.5% based on sector-specific affordability and profitability dynamics.
Looking ahead to hospitality, the AENC will face a decisive test. More than 40,000 workers in Alicante are impacted. The negotiation table for hospitality remains open, yet the parties have yet to submit concrete wage proposals, signaling potential gaps between positions.
Since the hospitality sector has had a higher wage trend, there is a discussion about balancing the 4% guideline with the sector already reporting substantial gains. In practice, an averaging approach may be needed to reflect sector realities.
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Industry observers from the unions argue that the final effect could exceed the 4% mark in some cases, pointing to strong profitability per room or rising restaurant revenues over the past year. The recovery in hospitality is more robust than the national average, suggesting a tight negotiation climate moving forward.
Whether a national agreement emerges or not, expectations point to continued intense negotiations as usual, shaping the next wave of wage discussions across Alicante and beyond.