Barcelona workers unions agree on minimum wage rise

31 Dec '13

2 min read

After two years of negotiations, workers and employers’ unions in the Spanish province of Barcelona have finally reached an agreement on minimum wages for the next two years, and they will be signing the Collective Textile Trade Agreement for 2012-2015 period.

According to a statement issued by the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) of Spain, agreement to be signed between UGT, the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (CCOO) and the Guild of Textile Trade and Commerce of Barcelona, provides for an increase of 0.6 percent in minimum wages for the next two years.

As per the agreement, the current annual working hours for laborers in Barcelona engaged in textile trade would be maintained throughout till 2015. However, wages for the current year would be increased by 0.5 percent, whereas it would be hiked by 0.6 percent during 2014 and 2015, plus an additional rise in line with the movements in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Hence, if the GDP growth of the province is back on track and is between the 0.1 to 1 percent, the increase in the wages would be by 0.6 percent, and if the GDP is greater than 1 percent, wages would rise by 0.8 percent, according to the agreement.

The agreement also calls for keeping 100 percent salary of workers during temporary disability, as well as establish corrective measures to reduce absenteeism of the workers.

According to the UGT, with the signing of this agreement workers in the textile sector of the Spanish province would be able to maintain their working conditions and enjoy wage increases during the period.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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