Spanish footwear sector evaluates simplified employment pension plans

Representatives from the Spanish footwear industry, including the Federación de Industrias del Calzado Español (FICE) and the Asociación Española de Empresas de Componentes para el Calzado (AEC), have met with the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration to discuss the implementation of Simplified Employment Pension Plans (PPES).

These plans are designed to complement public social security pensions through employer and employee contributions. The PPES framework aims to facilitate retirement savings specifically for SMEs and micro-enterprises, which constitute the vast majority of the footwear sector. The industry, composed of approximately 2,024 companies and nearly 30,000 workers, is currently evaluating the costs, management, and administrative effects of such a plan.

Any decision to adopt a sectoral pension plan would require agreement through collective bargaining. The sector is considering these options for potential inclusion in upcoming negotiations, which are slated to begin in 2029. The current regulatory framework also offers tax incentives, such as a 10% deduction in Corporate Tax for contributions made to these plans.