Basque Country leaders face calls for competitiveness pact and wage negotiations

The President of the Basque Country, Imanol Pradales, has held meetings with social agents to discuss the region's economic and social future. Tamara Yagüe, president of the Basque employers' association Confebask, has called for a ‘country pact for competitive transformation.’ She warned that industrial competitiveness in the Basque Country is currently compromised and urged a shared strategy to address demographic challenges and talent shortages. Yagüe noted that without timely action, the region could face a deficit of 240,000 workers within ten years, adding that 91% of Basque companies already report hiring difficulties.

Simultaneously, the major trade unions ELA and LAB have expressed strong opposition to the regional government's management. The unions have criticized Pradales for not pressuring Confebask to negotiate a Basque minimum wage of 1,500 euros. ELA's general secretary, Mitxel Lakuntza, also called for a ‘shock plan’ to address the deterioration of public services and criticized the government's approach to social dialogue and wage growth relative to inflation and corporate profits.