The agreement was finalized this Wednesday after a period of negotiation, establishing a provincial collective accord for the Spanish footwear components industry. The pact covers factories that produce molds, heels, flats, and plastic soles, and it ensures both job security and economic stability for workers and employers for the next four years. The contract, approved at the AEC employers’ headquarters, was negotiated with the sector’s most representative union, the UGT, and takes effect on signing day, remaining in force until January retroactively. From 2022 through December 1, 2025, the terms include salary improvements set to rise in steps through 2025, with different working-hour arrangements in various cases.
The AEC states that the new agreement complies with current legal regulations and creates stable employment conditions while protecting wage brackets. On the salary front, the deal documents retroactive increases for 2022 and for the following three years.
Employers and unions sign a truce in the footwear sector: wages up to 15.5%
Indeed, a 4% raise is set for 2022, with adjustments reflected in the January 2023 payroll from July. The 2023 increase is 3.5%, while 2024 will see a 2.75% rise, and 2025 a further 2.25% increase. Cumulatively, these steps total a 12.5% rise by 2025.
In addition, for the first time a salary review provision will apply. When the accumulated CPI exceeds the cumulative wage increases, the wage tables will be adjusted by up to 2.5%, starting with the January 2026 tables, ensuring a potential total increase of up to 15% in the period.
Working hours
The new accord sets an active annual working time of 1,784 hours over the four-year term, a reduction from the 1,788 hours planned for 2025. The sector includes more than 1,200 companies and nearly 24,000 workers, both direct and indirect, at the national level. The footwear components industry is recognized as a highly innovative part of the manufacturing landscape.
The AEC, representing national footwear component employers, emphasizes the value of collective bargaining during this period. It also notes the importance of reaching agreements that reflect industry realities and inflation pressures facing companies. By accepting the contract terms, both sides acknowledge the effort contributed by employers and employees alike. Several conditions point to a competitiveness framework that aligns closely with overall sector agreements.