The Government is moving towards an agreement on pensions
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has convened the social dialogue table again this Monday to address the issue of pensions, following the recent Government proposal that seeks to extend the notice period to access retirement from 2 to 3 years. general partial, although with certain conditions.
Topics discussed at the last meeting of the Negotiating Commission
In the previous meeting, significant issues related to collaboration between mutual societies and Social Security, the implementation of reducing coefficients for activities considered painful or dangerous, as well as the recovery of the multiplier coefficient of 1.5 for workers with discontinuous fixed contracts were discussed. . The compatibility between work and pension, among other relevant aspects, was also addressed.
Government expectations regarding the agreement
The Government is optimistic and considers that it is ‘close’ to reaching an agreement in cooperation with social agents on issues related to pensions and Social Security. However, the unions have expressed their concern about the lack of ‘new’ in the negotiations, as well as the shortage of documented proposals from the Ministry led by Elma Saiz.
Government proposal on partial retirement
With regard to general partial retirement, the Government has suggested an increase in the time period for which it can be taken early from 2 to 3 years. In addition, improvements have been made to the working conditions of the relief worker, particularly in the manufacturing industry, together with a new approach that seeks to achieve a fairer balance and greater flexibility in terms of the working hours of both the relief worker and the pensioner.
UGT expresses its concern about quotes
However, the General Union of Workers (UGT) has warned about a ‘compensation’ that workers must assume in order to access this 3-year early retirement option, since they must accumulate a total of 38 and a half years of contributions. . ‘Without this contribution history, workers will not be able to benefit from this type of retirement,’ the union warned.
Specific conditions for the manufacturing industry
For those who wish to apply for partial retirement in the manufacturing industry sector, UGT points out that the number of years of contributions required has been increased from 33 to 35 years, in addition to maintaining the proposed 3 years in advance.
Proposals to regulate partial retirement
The Ministry reported that it has presented a regulation on partial retirement based on the extension of the special regulation for workers in the manufacturing sector, seeking certain elements that bring these conditions closer to those of ordinary partial retirement. This approach includes adjustments aimed at improving the working conditions of the relief worker and a fairer and more flexible organization in relation to the working day of both the relief worker and the pensioner.
Lack of documents and responses from unions
On the other hand, Carlos Bravo, Secretary of Public Policies and Social Protection of the Workers’ Commissions (CCOO), has indicated that there has been no significant progress in the negotiation, since the Government has not provided new proposals. ‘It has been limited to compiling the topics discussed in previous meetings verbally and has received a demand from social agents to have written texts to be able to discuss them properly,’ Bravo explained.
Concerns about improvisation in proposals
Along these same lines, Cristina Estévez, secretary of Institutional Policy and Territorial Policies of UGT, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of concrete and documented proposals. ‘They are only verbal suggestions that show a certain air of improvisation and that do not favor the negotiation process at all,’ she criticized Estévez.
Future vision regarding the agreement
Despite these difficulties, CCOO has indicated that the Ministry still maintains the intention of reaching an agreement before the end of July, although the unions consider that this will be ‘complicated’ if the department led by Elma Saiz does not achieve deliver the corresponding texts quickly.
Next expected meeting
Thus, the Government and the social agents have scheduled a new meeting for this Monday at half past twelve in the morning, waiting for written proposals to be presented by the Ministry.