The measure will benefit 3.04 million public employees, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2024. Thus, the total increase for the past financial year will be 2.5%.

This 0.5% was included in the Framework Agreement for the Administration of the 21st Century, signed by the government and trade unions in 2022, which established a fixed increase of 3.5% for 2022, 2.5% for 2023 and 2% for 2024, says La Vanguardia. In addition to these fixed increases, there were variable increases of half a percentage point based on the CPI or the economy, which have been met but not applied in this case.

The increase, which is consolidable, will be calculated on the basis of the remuneration in force on 31 December 2023. The increase will begin to be paid in July’s payroll, according to CSIF, the leading trade union in the public sector. The government maintains that “it will materialise in one of the next payrolls”.

The improvement will apply to public service workers in the state administration, the autonomous communities, local authorities and other public institutions. The unions are criticising the delay in implementing the increase. CSIF has criticised the fact that the increase is coming late and only after continued pressure from workers, following “dozens of demonstrations throughout Spain since the beginning of the year” and even the filing of a formal complaint with the Presidency.