CCOO unions and UGT published a joint statement this Thursday, criticizing the proposal from the CEOE employers’ association to raise workers’ prices as insufficient. The interprofessional minimum wage SMI would move from 1,080 euros gross in 14 payments to 1,112 euros. The social partners have not yet reached a common position and have not clarified how much the salary base should rise, a move that would affect around three million workers across Spain.
The minimum wage is intended to safeguard European standards of dignity and competence. The 3 percent increase proposed by the employers does not meet those expectations, according to the unions. Leaders led by Antonio Garamendi had begun negotiations the previous week, presenting a plan that would raise the SMI by 3 percent for 2024 and again for 2025. This figure was tied to the level set in collective agreements and their reference to raising salaries within those agreements and work groups.
AENC articles endorsed as common across Europe emphasize inflation linked to collective agreements. The centers responded that while applying the Minimum Wage is challenging, it remains essential to protect purchasing power for those earning the minimum. The latest inflation data indicate that with a minimum wage increase of at least 4 percent, the SMI would reach 1,123.2 euros gross in 14 payments.
Publicly, the social partners urged the Government to convene the social dialogue table as soon as possible. The aim is to begin a process of negotiation with employers that satisfies all parties. The managers must first establish a committee of experts to provide an indicative range for increasing the salary base, with a clear reference to aligning a set amount with the 60 percent of the average salary in Spain. These steps are presented as essential to ensure that any adjustment keeps pace with economic realities and protects workers without creating unintended distortions in the wage system. The call to action reflects a desire for timely government leadership and a constructive, fact-based negotiation framework that makes meaningful progress for millions of families across the country. This approach aligns with ongoing concerns about inflation and living standards, and it seeks to translate general economic goals into concrete, workable policy choices for 2024 and beyond. Attribution: unions and industry representatives and related economic committees report the sentiments and positions described above.