The Government has ruled out a revaluation of the minimum wage in 2026 and has confirmed an increase for 2027. The decision is framed within the growing concern over the loss of purchasing power of workers.
The Government of Spain has announced that there will be no revaluation of the minimum interprofessional wage (SMI) in 2026, despite demands from unions due to rising prices. Instead, the Ministry of Labour, under the direction of Vice President Yolanda Díaz, has confirmed that a new increase will be implemented for the year 2027, according to expansion.com.
The upcoming revaluation of the SMI will be determined after a report from a committee of experts and will be presented to social agents at the dialogue table. The Secretary of State for Labour, Joaquín Pérez Rey, highlighted the concern over the loss of purchasing power for workers, both for those earning the minimum wage and for those receiving collective agreement salaries.
The decision not to activate the semi-annual revaluation clause comes in a context where inflation reached 4.3% in August, driven by rising fuel prices. Despite this, the Government has closed the door on a compensatory increase for this year, leading unions to demand a review of the SMI amount.
From UGT, there has been a request for the immediate convening of the social dialogue table to address the purchasing power situation and establish a new Agreement for Employment and Collective Bargaining (AENC) that guarantees adequate wage increases. The proposal includes a minimum annual wage increase of 4% between 2026 and 2028.
Since 2018, the minimum wage has increased by 66%, rising from 735.90 euros per month to 1,221 euros in 2026. This increase has been part of the Government's objective to comply with the European Social Charter and position the SMI at 60% of the country's average salary.
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