The Second Vice President and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, on Thursday launched a new order to the employers’ union according to which the incentives proposed by the government to help small businesses implement the reduction in working hours are subject to negotiation by the CEOE. and agree within the framework of social dialogue, or strictly apply the law. Labor has admitted it will need to urgently legislate on the measure due to the tight timetable and unions are pushing for working time reforms with or without employers.
Labor tried to lure employers with a new offer which the CEOE rejected almost immediately. It proposes hiring bonuses in microSMEs in two cases: new permanent contracts previously unemployed, already proposed in September, and adds the conversion of part-time workers into full-time employees derived from the reduction in working hours .
He maintains the proposal to improve these signatures for women, young people under 30 and workers over 55, and they will be conditional on remaining in employment for three years. And it conditions aid on maintaining employment for three years. It in no way defines the percentage of tranches that would be subsidized.
“Social dialogue must be encouraged and treated with respect,” declared the second vice-president during a press conference presenting the first International Labor Congress. In this sense, The leader of the Labor Party reiterated that in social dialogue there is no veto, but rather dialogue and negotiation. “And we know well that companies with fewer than five workers need to be supported,” underlined the vice-president, regarding the measures proposed for SMEs in the negotiation of the reduction of working hours.
However, Díaz urged employers to tell “the country and businessmen” if they want to embark on this path of helping SMEs apply the reduction of working hours or if they want to take the “strict law enforcement” route. “. Antonio Garamendi, president of the CEOE, once again insisted on the path of collective agreements to reduce working hours.
At this point, Díaz recalled that the government was willing to help employers undertake an increase in the minimum wage of up to 4%, if there was the agreement of the employers. “The employers decided to do something else. Of course, it seems that it would benefit businessmen and women, no. And they preferred not to sign an agreement and for us to increase the minimum wage again,” he said. noted the vice president.
So, even if he believes the agreement is possible, Díaz believes that employers must explain whether it will be “up to par with that of the country.” “The question is whether the management of the employers’ association will set a minimum wage, to the detriment of companies, or whether it is willing to negotiate,” he said. “We know what we have to do and we know that there are very effective and important measures for companies with fewer than five workers,” he stressed.
Regarding the deadline, the vice-president recalled that the agreement provides that by December 31, 2025, all Spaniards “contributing to whatever sector of activity they are” will see their working time reduced to 37 and a half hours. “Spain is late after 105 years of defining a working day and it is true that we have had a working day frozen for 40 years,” lamented the leader of the Labor Party.
