UGT urges the Spanish government to finally reform the working hours registration system

BarcelonaThe General Secretary of the UGT union, Pepe Álvarez, warned the Spanish government this Thursday that they "will not sign any more agreements" if it does not fulfill its commitments to modify the timekeeping system and prevent the absorption and offsetting of bonuses for those earning the minimum wage (SMI). At a breakfast briefing to present UGT's proposals for the new year, Álvarez asserted that the approval of the decree reforming the timekeeping system is "absolutely a priority." He warned that he will not sign any agreements with the government "if it does not comply" and bring this legislation, which he said is currently "shelved," to the Council of Ministers. "There are hundreds of thousands of people who are being abused in relation to their working hours," he emphasized.

The union will also not accept this negligence in the approval of the decree that should prevent the offsetting and absorption of bonuses and supplements from collective bargaining agreements by those receiving the minimum wage, a change to which the government already committed last year. The Ministry of Labor yesterday proposed an increase of 3.1% The government has spoken with employers and unions, while also committing to "explore" with the Treasury a relaxation of "the rules on de-indexing" wages in public contracts. "In a country with a public sector transferred to private enterprise, the inability to take wage increases into account prevents collective bargaining agreements from being fulfilled," Álvarez said. The union leader said he hopes employers will join the agreement to raise the minimum wage and also urged employers to sit down to negotiate the new Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining (AENC). Dismissal reform, with or without employers

Regarding the negotiations to reform dismissals in Spain, the general secretary of the UGT union announced that the report the Spanish government requested, containing proposals to comply with the European Council of Social Rights (ECSR) resolution, is "very advanced" and will be presented "shortly." Álvarez urged employers to submit contributions, but warned that this issue, like the reform of the occupational risk prevention law, "cannot be delayed any longer" and must move forward "with or without employers."