The minimum wage will rise next year by 3.5% to 621 euros per month

The Government’s aim is to reach 800 euros at the end of the legislature

The minimum wage (SMI) in 2009 will rise by 3.5% to 621 euros a month. Trade unions believe that this increase is “insufficient” to achieve the Government’s commitment to raise the SMI 200 euros per month in this legislature.

The increase proposed by the executive, is expected to be adopted at the Ministerial Council meeting next Friday, moves away from the annual increase of 8% to be applied each of these four years for the SMI be at the end of the legislature at 800 euros a month, as the president pledged the Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, explained from UGT.

However, both the economic vice president, Pedro Solbes, as Labor Minister Celestino Corbacho, have reiterated many times that, given the situation of economic crisis and the request of the employer not to increase over the SMI, the annual increases to reach a goal of 800 euros would not be linear. Thus, a minor increase in the coming year could be offset with larger increases in subsequent years.

UGT warned that with the increase of 3.5% compounded reach 800 euros within four years. In addition, is the paralysis of the convergence of SMI Spanish with 60% of the average wage of the European Union (EU).

In the last legislature, the minimum wage was increased by 139.5 euros per month, from 460.5 euros to be paid in 2004, up to 600 euros in 2008, ie 30.3% more. In 2004 rose by 8.6% in 2005 and 4.5%, while in 2006, 2007 and 2008 the increase was above 5% each year.