The increase in the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI) returns to the fore. Once again, the three main actors: unions, employers and the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, seek to bring positions closer together.
After the last increase in January 2023, the SMI stood at 1,080 euros per month in 14 payments; Now a proposal for a new increase comes from the government: 1,310 euros per month. This would give an annual cost for the self-employed of more than 21,500 euros per worker.
No firm agreement but good intentions
The proposals for improvement for workers are like the letter to the Three Wise Men, everyone asks for what would make the workers most excited, but until the day arrives, we do not know if their requests will bring a smile to our faces or if we will hold our hands. to the head.
The Executive would have proposed an increase of 4%, a few tenths above the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE) for 3% and the unions – the most optimistic – are betting on a 10% increase.
As they say that virtue lies in the middle, the Government opts for an intermediate figure. Not even for you, for me, would it be the translation.
The minimum cost per worker with the 4% increase in the SMI proposed by Yolanda Díaz would be 21,500 euros
After the last increase in the Interprofessional Minimum Wage, situated at 1,080 euros and adding the contributions, the cost per worker assumed by the self-employed is 1,753 euros per month, that is, 20,820 euros per year.
If we take into account the Government’s current proposal to raise the SMI in accordance with the CPI, the minimum salary that the self-employed would pay in 2024 would be 1,120 euros per month in 14 payments, 15,680 euros per year.
And what would the costs per worker be like for a self-employed person? If this increase is applied, the gross monthly salary calculated for 12 months would be 1,310 euros per month, to which about 500 euros would have to be added for contributions. This would give a total annual cost for the self-employed of more than 21,500 euros per worker.
How much would the costs per worker rise for the self-employed if the SMI increased to 1,200 euros, as the unions request
If we imagine the scenario proposed by the UGT and CCOO unions, the impact would be greater on the cost per worker. They propose setting the SMI at 1,200 euros per month. If we add the cost of Social Security to this, the calculator smokes: 528 euros per month in contributions or, in other words, paying 6,336 euros per year for each worker.
And if we calculate at the speed of light, the total cost between salary, extra pay and contributions, the expense for a business per employee would rise to 23,136 euros per year.