Pimec warns: the housing crisis makes it difficult to find workers

BarcelonaPimec has held its annual event in the midst of the housing crisis. And the president of the business organization, Antoni Cañete, has taken advantage of the presence of the president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, and the Minister of Social Security and spokesperson for the Spanish government, Elma Saiz, to warn of the risk that the housing crisis poses to competitiveness.

"63% of companies tell us that they have difficulties filling job vacancies. And one of the causes is that many people cannot access housing near where they work," stated the president of Pimec. Cañete, who applauded the central executive's action with measures such as decrees, also warned that the housing issue is no longer just a social problem, but one that also affects competitiveness.

Before an audience of more than 2,000 people, the president of Pimec warned that legal initiatives "cannot end up reducing the supply of housing. Because if we generate legal uncertainty, if owners perceive more risk and homes end up leaving the rental market, we will not have solved the problem. We will have aggravated it." He advocated for a cross-cutting pact for housing that is "broad, stable, and lasting."

Cañete also recalled other pending issues and matters that concern business owners, such as workplace absenteeism, which, in his view, is an issue that must be addressed with the participation of everyone involved in the labor and healthcare worlds; and immigration. Regarding absenteeism, the Minister of Social Security, in her speech, said that "a medical leave is not workplace absenteeism" nor does a temporary leave have to be. Saiz said that companies in this regard can collaborate in terms of occupational risk prevention, the adaptation of workplaces, or support for the return to the workplace.

Regarding immigrants, Cañete took advantage of the presence of Elma Saiz, who also holds the responsibility, to recall that if it had not been for those who came from abroad, it would not have been possible to fill all the jobs that the economy needed. However, he demanded that the arrivals must be "an orderly and regulated migration. A migration with rights and duties".

He also opted to "make salaries grow," but in such a way that this increase actually reaches workers and families. For this reason, at a time when inflation affects families and businesses, he demanded adapting the personal income tax (IRPF) rate to the rise in prices (deflation) and updating deductions and aid for families. In any case, salary increases, to be sustainable, must be accompanied by improved productivity.

And for this, a business growth law is needed, insisted Cañete. "Size matters. Size allows for more investment, more innovation, incorporating more technology, internationalizing, better training of people, and attracting talent," as happens in Germany, with a weight of SMEs similar to that of Catalonia and Spain.

Awards

The Pimec awards night celebrated its 39th edition under the motto "Growing is the future. Let's make it big". During the event, the following awards were presented: the second business opportunity award, for Halitta Foods; the Catalan business projection award, for Druids Process Technology; the business linguistic quality award, for B i B Grup; the Barcelona high innovation company award, for Theker Robotics; the social commitment award, for Pallars Fustes; the pimes plus award, for Kave Home; the most competitive micro-enterprise award, for 2M Engineering; the small business award, for Beor; and the medium-sized business award, for Krypton Chemical, among others.