Sánchez aprieta a los empresarios: exige una subida general de sueldos ante el alza del IPC

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is urging business leaders to show sensitivity towards trade union demands and increase wages in response to the rising consumer price index (IPC). The issue has come to the forefront as negotiations for a renewed agreement on employment and collective bargaining (AENC) approach, with Sánchez focusing on the need for businesses to engage in dialogue with the new interprofessional minimum wage (SMI) increase and the upcoming bipartite negotiation table between business and labor representatives.

Sánchez's comments follow a parliamentary question, in which he emphasized the importance of business sensitivity in addressing union claims and raising salaries. This is not the first time Sánchez has addressed the matter, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labour, led by Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz. At a recent signing ceremony, Sánchez confirmed that another salary scale revaluation would be implemented to maintain the wage level at 60% of the average salary.

With the IPC rising by 4.3% in August and the annual average expected to be between 3.4% (according to Funcas) and 3.6% (according to the Bank of Spain), the new increase will likely exceed 3% once again. The specific call for businesses to participate in negotiations for the new AENC, which has been void since January 2026, targets CEOs of major Spanish organizations, CEOE and Cepyme.

Sánchez urged the business sector to be sensitive to the demands of labor unions, ensuring improved working conditions for the middle and working classes who do not earn the interprofessional minimum wage but deserve salary increases. Union representatives have raised their demands, seeking general annual increments of around 4% over three years, or 12% between 2026 and 2028.

The role of business organizations remains to be seen, as UGT and CCOO have called on the patronal organizations led by Antonio Garamendi and Angela de Miguel to join the negotiation table for the upcoming agreement periods.