The Government sees it possible for Congress to give the green light to a reduction of working hours legal maxim even if it arrives without the approval of the patronal. This is reported by sources at the highest level in the social dialogue who are familiar with the state of the negotiations, who point out that an abstention from the PP or the collaboration of Junts They are on the table and could facilitate the measure promoted by the vice presidency of Yolanda Díaz to end up seeing the light.
This point is key to determining whether the star reform of Díaz’s department for this legislature sees the light of day. No matter how much Labor, unions and employers negotiate, Parliament has the last word. Without a sufficient majority in the Cortes, it is not possible to reform the Workers’ Statute as Díaz intends to reduce the current 40 maximum working hours to 37.5 next year.
The lowering of the tone with which Labor addresses employers that has been seen since July is interpreted in that context. Since that date, Díaz’s department has offered a battery of flexibility measures and aid to small businesses to try to attract CEOE to the agreement. An agreement that included the employers’ association in the equation could make parties like PNV or Junts, which take business opinion into account, accept the measure.
In all those months, The employers’ association has not changed its position and its official position continues to be one of rejection to the reduction of working hours by law. A path that considers an imposition and an interference by the Government in business freedom, when this matter should be regulated in agreements, they defend. However, the aforementioned sources warn that It is not a good strategy if what CEOE intends is to block the negotiation with the confidence that Parliament will not accept an agreement without the businessmen on board.
The aforementioned sources indicate that It would not be surprising if the PP abstained in an eventual parliamentary vote on a measure that the majority of voters of all parties view favorably. They interpret that the latest proposals regarding conciliation – which includes a proposal for a four-day week, but negotiated with the social agents – that the popular parties have proposed could facilitate their abstention.
Nevertheless, The PP’s approach is not about working fewer hours, but rather about greater flexibility in the distribution of the day. Furthermore, it has finally been left out of his proposal for a conciliation law. The president of the popular parties, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, met this week with the country’s two main union leaders, with whom he exchanged views on this matter. After one of the meetings, the general secretary of CCOO, Unai Sordo, said that he does not see the PP “for the work” of supporting the reduction of the working day to 37.5 hours.
As far as Junts is concerned, The Government does not rule out the support of the post-convergents either. if the reduction in working hours finally reaches Congress. It is known that Yolanda Díaz and her number two, Joaquín Pérez Rey, were touring Catalonia in September trying to court the regional employers’ associations Pimec and Foment del Treball, although their leaders did not support the Executive’s proposals.
Work raises the tone
After several meetings in which Labor had softened the tone considerably towards the employers, Yolanda Díaz charged again and issued a warning to businessmen on Thursday. The vice president pointed out that the offer of aid to SMEs so that they can reduce social contributions in the hiring they make due to the reduction of working hours, is subject to the employers signing an agreement. “Social dialogue has to have incentives and be treated with respect,” he stated.
In this regard, sources familiar with the negotiation point out thattime is running out and that the dialogue table must be concluded before the end of the year. Furthermore, they confirm that, if an agreement was reached only with the unions, the bonuses for SMEs would disappear, something that, they estimate, would have a cost for the employers.
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