José Luis Escrivá, the minister in charge of Inclusion, Social Security and Immigration, indicated that his department is operating at peak capacity. The amendment to the Social Security General Law aims to streamline the transfer of real estate or land to other administrations that is not in current use, making the process quicker and more practical than before.
In Ciudad Real, the minister joined Emiliano García-Page, the president of Castilla-La Mancha, at a signing ceremony on Friday. The agreement would enable the consolidation of two parcels in the city around the former Nuestra Señora de Alarcos Hospital. García-Page announced the initiative during the event.
Escrivá noted that the existing law slows down transfers of real estate or land to other administrations when those assets are not actively used. As part of the plan, a green area will be established following a pact between the regional government and the City Council, drawing on the Alarcos hospital example. The hospital property, which belongs to the Social Security General Treasury, has been unused since 2005–2006 and is adjacent to a health facility.
He added that when a Social Security building is requested for a project by the Congregation or the City Council, and if Social Security is not actively using it, the initiative should be pursued as quickly as possible. This stance reflects a strategic shift discussed by the minister.
Escrivá thanked the governments of Castilla-La Mancha, the provincial council, and the Ciudad Real City Council for their perseverance and affirmed that the Alarcos hospital agreement should move forward soon. He remarked that the experience showed a need to rethink and accelerate procedures in the future.
Social Security’s protective action
Escrivá stressed that the primary purposes of Social Security are not about managing unused wealth, but the end results are significant. The pandemic era revealed the crucial support provided by the system, including ERTE schemes and support for self-employed workers. He highlighted the Spanish government’s substantial effort to protect the productive fabric and workers’ wages, underscoring the role of Social Security in sustaining livelihoods during tough times.
He praised Spain’s recovery from the pandemic and noted a growth trajectory that exceeded expectations. Across the country, the number of workers contributing to Social Security registered a rise of about four percent compared with pre-pandemic levels, equating to roughly 700,000 contributors.
Beyond the national trend, Escrivá observed that Castilla-La Mancha experienced employment growth that outpaced the national average by a full percentage point. He pointed out that not only traditional sectors are expanding, but information technology and telecommunications in Castilla-La Mancha are growing at a rate of around eight percent.
The minister reported that approximately one in four residents of Castilla-La Mancha benefits from Social Security. He estimated about 400,000 retirees in the region, with their purchasing power safeguarded by central government legislation. He reiterated that retirees are protected by the measures enacted at the national level.
There are around 20,000 non-contributory pension recipients in the region, representing individuals with the lowest pensions. Escrivá noted that not only is their purchasing power secured, but there is also a 15 percent increase in non-contributory pensions from July through year-end. Castilla-La Mancha also supports about 60,000 beneficiaries of the Minimum Vital Income. These figures prompted the minister to reiterate that the government’s protective actions in Social Security would help stabilize the region amid complex economic challenges, including those linked to the broader European context and recent global events.