The second vice president of the government asks not to fall “into the same mistake” in this crisis by devaluing workers’ incomes
He did not want to miss his appointment with the workers for another year. Long before politics, he was a trade unionist from the cradle. Daughter and niece of historical leaders of the CCOO, the second vice president and minister of labor, Yolanda Díaz, attended the celebration in Madrid to demand that workers not be the big losers again in this new crisis and spoke exclusively for this one. newspaper.
-The labor market has resisted so far, but a certain slowdown is beginning to emerge. Will there be billing in the coming months?
-The estimates are complicated because it is very difficult to predict the evolution of the armed conflict, the fundamental factor generating the effects on the economy and on the labor market.
However, it must be borne in mind that all mechanisms must be greased perfectly so that it can withstand use. Unlike the EPA, the data we’ll know about employment next Wednesday is very positive, both in hiring and on record. When recruiting, they are spectacular and show that unemployment is once again resisting in the face of economic difficulties. And this is the most important change that our job market has brought about: that it is no longer pure volatility.
Normally, a conflict like the invasion of Ukraine would have resulted in massive job losses. In short, what has happened in the EPA is nothing more than an effect that is normally linked to the first quarter, is seasonal and always occurs.
Is any measure being considered to help employment withstand the blows of inflation and war?
-The measures are already underway. Anticipating the potential impact of the war, the government has accelerated the implementation of the ERTE by establishing the RED fund and all instruments in full force, which companies with full coverage can resort to.
The great teachings to protect the labor market during the pandemic have already been absorbed as a result of the labor reform. Both the elements related to the collapse of the supply chain and the possible difficulties to sustain production due to a lack of raw materials can be solved through the ERTE mechanisms, with a very high degree of social protection.
In addition, the government has taken more measures in the labor market, such as limiting and banning layoffs, so that neither energy prices nor companies that resort to ERTEs can run without workers. That is why very important measures are on the table so that the labor market is also resilient in this crisis and does not lead to layoffs or job losses.
-The impact of the labor reform is fast and the temporary rate has fallen, but it is still very high. How would you like to see the reduction rate this year and the following year?
-This May 1st will be historic in open-ended contracts. Our country is already approaching European standards. Obviously, we want this to be the rate of phasing out of agency work that has taken place in these first three months of the year and that we will see in the fourth as well. It is a very staggering pace, even I am amazed at how companies have already anticipated the effects of the labor reform, even in a period of vacatio legis, that is, of adjustment.
The momentum is clearly upward, going from a historical average that was between 8% and 10%, to after the reform of 15%, we reached 22%, we were above 30% in March and I trust that in April we will have a lot will be higher than that figure.
With this staggering drop, the temporary employment rate is clearly converging more and more with the European averages. That was the aim of this reform, to stop being the Spanish anomaly.
– Trade unions and employers are blocked in the negotiations on the salary increase while the income agreement seems to have remained a headline. Does the government not value promoting an agreement?
– The Ministry’s position, as I have reiterated on many occasions, is that it cannot be the wage devaluation of male and female workers that, once again, bears the costs of the crisis. It is a wrong policy that has been followed in our country for years and we must not make the same mistake again. In any case, the government respects the dialogue between the parties, and this dialogue keeps the business organizations and trade unions busy.
– Will the minimum wage increase before 2023 be in line with inflation?
We have always argued that inflation and the minimum wage are not variables that must necessarily go hand in hand. In fact, since 2018 it has risen much more than inflation, 36%, from 735 euros to 1,000 euros. Our big goal is to meet international standards, which put it at 60% of the average salary and this is recommended by the expert report, which indicates that it could reach 1,047 euros by 2023.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
