Alejandra Olcese

Updated Friday, February 23, 2024-12:38

  • Employers' working hours and unions agree that the reduction in working hours be done in annual hours and that it can be done with more days off

UGT

is going to ask the Government and, in particular, the Ministry of Social Security now headed by Elma Saiz, that

workers

who have worked

overtime

throughout their working life have

the right to retire earlier

in the same proportion as the hours worked. , given that this time has meant "weariness" for them.

This was announced this Friday by the general secretary of the union,

Pepe Álvarez

, in a press conference he held in Oviedo, where he pointed out that "just as overtime pays contributions to Social Security, those who carry an overtime backpack "What they have done throughout their lives

should count towards their retirement age because it is also wear and tear

. If they have worked overtime equivalent to one year, we are going to ask that they be able to retire one year earlier."

In addition to requesting that the retirement age be reduced, Álvarez recalled that they have filed a complaint with the European Committee of Social Rights because they consider that Spain violates the European Social Charter by not obliging companies to pay

overtime with a salary higher

than the of ordinary hours.

To know more

Employment.

Spain, behind European countries in the remuneration of overtime

  • Editor: ALEJANDRA OLCESE

Spain, behind European countries in the remuneration of overtime

The union is going to raise it within the framework of the

negotiations

that are being carried out with Social Security and with employers to rescue issues that were pending when the pension reform was agreed, such as the application of

reducing coefficients

that allow retirement. rather, to professions in which there is special wear and tear, due to their danger or difficult conditions, among others.

The general secretary of UGT has also referred to other negotiations that are ongoing, such as that relating to the reduction of working hours, which is being debated in the bipartite dialogue - with CEOE and Cepyme - and also in parallel in another table in which the Government also participates.

Álvarez is in favor of

reducing the working day

- always on an annual basis, as this media has already announced, which allows companies to flexibly choose whether to reduce the daily working day or compensate for the decrease with more days off or vacations - and he is also a supporter to reinforce time control as the Government intends.

He also highlighted this Friday that reducing the working day does not have to imply a cut in productivity and has assured that "in other cities in Europe, shops close earlier and that does not mean that they sell less."

Lawsuit about dismissal

The union leader has taken advantage of his intervention to once again

accuse the Government

of putting

pressure

on the aforementioned Strasbourg Committee to delay its ruling on his claim in relation to the cost of the dismissal.

This body is studying whether severance payments in Spain are sufficiently dissuasive or if, as has happened in France and Italy, it is necessary to urge a change in legislation that allows a type of à la carte compensation depending on the characteristics of the dismissed person.

EL MUNDO was able to meet with members of this Committee in September, who assured that the opinion would not arrive until the end of 2024 or

beginning of 2025

due to a question of time and volume of work, but Álvarez assures that the delay is due "to pressure from the Government ", who is "trying to delay the resolution."