The Ministry of Public Works considers the imposition of the 37.5-hour work week "the biggest economic mistake" of democracy.

Barcelona"It is probably the most serious economic error from a legislative perspective, committed by Pedro Sánchez's government, at the behest of Vice President Yolanda Díaz, in these 46 years of democracy." This is how the president of the Catalan Labour Promotion Agency, Josep Sánchez Llibre, described the legal imposition of the reduction of the working week to 37.5 hours during his speech at the Catalan employers' association's general assembly.

"We believe it is a direct attack not only on productivity, but also against the interests of workers who do not aspire to work less but to earn more," stated Sánchez Llibre. "It will result in a 7% increase in labor costs and a cost to Spanish companies of €23 billion," said the president of the business organization, adding that imposing it by law "dynamites social dialogue." In this regard, he recalled that "the Ministry of Public Works is not against reducing working hours; it is against its legal imposition."

The representative of the Catalan employers' association has stated that, together with the CEOE, they have been in contact for many months "with all the parliamentary groups in the Congress of Deputies to try to prevent this initiative from moving forward." He also boasted of a small victory in Díaz: "For now, we've already won a year; the vice president wanted it to be effective by 2025, and that won't be possible."

The return of corporate headquarters

Beyond the now-customary back-and-forth with the Minister of Labor, Sánchez Llibre also celebrated the return of some companies' headquarters over the past year. "This [the return of headquarters] was one of the key objectives of our candidacy in 2018," he emphasized.

"We must recognize that the arrival of President Isla to the Generalitat has contributed to the creation of a climate of political normality and business confidence that has resulted in the return of important companies that left: Molins, La Caixa Foundation, Criteria, Banco Sabadell, etc.", he celebrated, while recalling the leading role: our influence.

In fact, Sánchez Llibre has claimed himself for years as one of the main interlocutors between companies and the Government, and has made the return of his one of his banners. "I can only announce that many more will come", he assured.

Negotiations with Collboni for social housing

On the other hand, the demand for "competitive taxation and the defense of private property," as well as for a "major push for housing policy and access to housing," was another point highlighted by the president of Fomento. Sánchez Llibre acknowledged that the employers' association has "reacted very harshly to the increase in tax pressure imposed by the Catalan government on tourism and housing issues and the modification of temporary contracts," but he stressed that "this does not mean" that "the bridges of dialogue have been broken, but quite the opposite." "At Fomento, we will always be open to agreements to seek solutions for our companies and to promote their competitiveness and contribute to reducing social inequalities," he asserted.

In this regard, the president of Fomento announced that he will begin "negotiations with all parliamentary groups, including the PSC, this week to try to find more cross-cutting solutions." Likewise, he has also announced that he will begin talks with the mayor of Barcelona, ​​​​Jaume Collboni, "and different municipal groups, to change the ordinance that has required, since 2018 [during the time of Mayor Ada Colau], the construction or renovation of 30 percent of social housing, which has been a complete failure to date," he stated.

Beyond these announcements, Sánchez Llibre has reiterated his willingness to extend the cycle of nuclear power plants for another ten years and also recalled his position on BBVA's takeover bid for Sabadell: "We already said that the successful hostile takeover would mean a loss for SMEs. We already asked President Pedro Sánchez to stop it," he stated.