Spanish Government Announces 8 Percent Rise To Minimum Wage
Spain News
Published: 01 February 2023 17:47 CET
Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, today announced an increase to the minimum wage.
Speaking at the Senate upper house of parliament, Sánchez declared that “We’re going to approve a new 8.0 percent increase in the minimum wage to reach €1,080” gross across 14 months.
In Spain, salary payments are traditionally made in 14 monthly payments per annum, with the extra salary generally paid in the months of July and December.
Sánchez affirmed that “the increase in the minimum wage, agreed with the unions, fulfills the commitment acquired at the beginning of the legislature,” to raise the minimum wage “to 60 percent of the average Spanish salary,” he said.
The latest announcement comes ahead of a busy electoral year in Spain with various municipal polls taking place in May and a general election by the end of the year, although a date has not yet been confirmed.
Mr Sánchez was quick to point out his government’s efforts to raise the minimum wage since taking office back in 2018.
“We have raised it by 36 percent, that’s to say from €735 when we entered government to €1,000 gross over 14 months, and always in the face of staunch opposition from the neo-liberals,” he said.
Although unions had been pushing for 1,100 euros over 14 months, the new measure will equate to a gross payment of 1,260 euros, spread over 12 months.
CCOO union boss Unai Sordo shared his joy of the news on Twitter, “There will be some 2.5 million beneficiaries and it will have a greater impact on women, young people, those with temporary contracts or working in agriculture or the service sectors.”
Talks on increasing the minimum wage were spurned by employers groups, on the grounds that their concerns were not being considered.
Even though price hikes have slowed significantly in recent months, the increasement of the minimum wage comes against a backdrop of high inflation.
In January, inflation stood at 5.8 percent, following the 10.8 percent peak in July, the highest level in 38 years.
Sources
https://www.thelocal.es/20230201/spain-to-raise-minimum-wage-by-8-percent/
https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/presidente/actividades/Paginas/2023/310123-sanchez-senado.aspx
Image Credit: La Moncloa
