Spain Ministry of Labour to convene experts for minimum wage review

Spain's Ministry of Labour and Social Economy plans to convene an advisory commission of experts this October to begin preparations for the 2026 Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI) increase. This advisory meeting serves as a preliminary step before formal negotiations with unions and employer organizations.

In addition to the wage review, the government aims to advance legislation regarding mandatory working hour registration. Secretary of State for Labour, Joaquín Pérez Rey, stated that the government is working to refine the regulation to address previous objections from the Council of State and the Data Protection Agency, ensuring legal certainty and protecting worker rights against unpaid overtime.

Labor unions, including UGT FICA, have raised concerns regarding the impact of previous SMI increases on professional categories. Specifically, they noted that rising minimum wages have narrowed the pay gap between different job levels in sectors like agri-food, sometimes causing wage overlap between unskilled laborers and skilled workers.