Employers’ anger over the 8.6% increase in the so-called “maximum contribution bases” for the 2023 budget, which mark the highest wages, has revealed part of the government’s intentions for these so-called high wages. “suspension”. Today, salaries are only 4139.40 euros per month, above this amount they do not include social security. The government has agreed with Brussels to increase this maximum price for the next three decades, and this Monday it was revealed that the executive is going to increase the prices (inflation) every year and, in addition, an additional percentage, which is negotiated with the social networks. agents.
This was explained by the Minister of Social Security, José Luis Escriva, to the media when asked about the 8.6% increase in the maximum contribution bases included in the 2023 budget draft and that the CEOE employers rated as “unacceptable”. Employers have criticized the government’s failure to hold open-table negotiations on pension reform for the increase and have also attacked the amount of the increase itself (8.6%), which they believe is too high.
Escrivá emphasized that the increase in the maximum contribution base for 2023 is approximately in line with the increase in prices according to the expected average inflation of the year (8.5%), which is a reference for the annual increase of pensions. The minister defended that it is “reasonable” that the highest wages rise as the maximum pension. That is, with prices like the rest.
floor next “unstoppable”
The news is that it is not just ‘what is reasonable’ for this year, but the Social Security Commissioner has revealed that the government’s intention is for inflation to be the basis for the future evolution of the maximum base. And, therefore, the basis of the “suspension” process that will be discussed for decades to come.
To date, the maximum base is established in the budgets, but without a set reference. For example, last year it increased by 1.7%, and pensions by 2.5%, according to average inflation. In 2020 and 2021, the maximum base was not increased during the support of companies with ERTE and because of the crisis due to the pandemic, Minister Escriva recalled.
The executive’s plans are now going ahead as the maximum base rises with prices anyway – as pensions will – and on top of that, an “extra interest” will be added, which is currently being negotiated with social workers. The social dialogue table on pensions, as explained by Minister Escriva and the Secretary of State for Social Security, Borja Suarez.
Negotiations with employers and trade unions face the last stage of the government coalition’s pension reform, and it has two central elements: namely, increasing the maximum contribution base and, on the other hand, revising the calculation period for calculating the pension.
José Luis Escrivá explained to the press the executive’s plans to justify his “surprise” by businessmen’s complaints about the 8.6% growth by 2023. The minister claims he is “very surprised” by the criticism of the business because they knew. The proposal of the minister is to increase the maximum bases according to the prices from now on, he said.
Negotiations on this latest block of pension changes have so far barely begun, with complaints from unions and employers over the lack of a concrete proposal from the government. The Minister of Social Protection requested to “give time for negotiations”. “We are making good progress,” he added.
Spain, far from the EU
Those responsible for social security have stressed that Spain is dealing with the so-called “unstoppable” of the maximum bases in the pension negotiations, as we have a “reduced” ceiling compared to other EU countries.
In other words, the total contribution limit of €4,139.40 is lower than in other European countries, so it is intended to increase higher-paid workers and also the maximum pension they will receive afterwards. public system.
How much the maximum pensions will increase and whether they will increase in the same proportion as the maximum bases is not yet known and is one of the keys to the negotiation of this part of the reform, which must be approved by the end of the year.
Source: El Diario
