SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 26 April 2024, Friday |

Spain plans a 2% pay raise for all civil servants

The Spanish government aims to provide all civil servants a 2 percent pay raise in 2022 to help their salaries keep pace with rising consumer prices, a source at the budget ministry said on Tuesday.

The pay raise will have to be approved by the full cabinet and then by parliament before the end of this year as part of next year’s government budget bill.

Flash data from statistics institute INE last week showed the 12-month inflation rate hitting a 13-year high of 4%.

The government says the rise in prices is transitory but the Bank of Spain has warned of second-round effects, such as wage hikes, that could make inflation persist.

Spain’s minimum wage was raised by 1.6 percent in September and the government plans further increases for 2022.

Public pensions are meanwhile due to be increased on Jan. 1 to match the average 2021 inflation rate, which experts estimate will be around 2.8%.

The Socialists and radical left party Unidas Podemos, which comprise the ruling coalition, agreed a budget draft on Tuesday after weeks of bickering, having eventually found common ground on housing, the most disputed issue.

    Source:
  • Reuters