The unions and the National Association of Large Distribution Companies (Anged), which includes companies such as El Corte Inglés, Carrefour and Ikea, among others, have agreed on a 17% salary increase over four years, within the framework of the negotiation of the new agreement for department stores, the largest in Spain, affecting some 260,000 workers.
As reported by the Fetico Independent Trade Union Confederation (majority union with 54%) and which has been accompanied by CCOO, Valorian and UGT at the social table, of the 17% salary increase, 14% corresponds to a fixed increase, while the remaining 3% to a single payment.
According to the calendar, in 2023 a fixed 4.5% will be paid, in 2024 a fixed 4.5%, in 2025 a fixed 3% and in 2026 a fixed 2%. In this way, as pointed out by the general secretary of Fetico, Antonio Pérez, the workers of the department stores are at a minimum wage of 18,000 euros per year at the end of the agreement. “That was our goal and we have achieved it,” he said.
Another of the agreements reached is the increase in salary concepts such as allowances, the vacation bag (which increases by 29% to 450 euros) or teleworking (40%, to 35 euros).
Likewise, with regard to the working day, it has been decided to reduce work on Sundays and holidays, reducing the current percentages to 30%. Consequently, this will be the agreement of the ‘retail’ sector where less Sundays and holidays are worked in Spain.
Specifically, 50% will go to work up to 15 openings (two Sundays less), 40% from 16 openings to 25, 30% from 25 to general opening and in general opening a number of 22 Sundays to which is added a Saturday off together with Sunday off.
“This sector is a pioneer in the drastic reduction of Sundays to work, which also encourages the increase in part-time hours, which is one of the endemic ills of the country’s labor system,” Pérez explained.
In addition, the agreement also improves conciliation with an eight-hour permit that is extended in its use to dependent people or people over 70 years of age to accompany them to medical emergencies, as well as the increase from six free Saturdays and Sundays to nine free Saturdays a year .
In the same way, the agreement includes aspects related to equality and job security or women victims of gender violence who in case of transfer will have 750 euros of help.
In turn, the sector’s evolution observatory will guarantee a commitment of 90% permanent employment and adaptation to the needs of the sector in the coming years.
“This agreement stands out for being of a state nature, equalizing people who carry out work of equal value, marks a historic increase and positions us as a reference in retail”, declared the spokesperson for the sectoral table.
