Elma Saiz announces a Social Security agreement between Spain and the US to promote labor mobility

MADRID, 26 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has advanced in Washington DC, where she is on an official visit, the signing of a new Social Security agreement between Spain and the United States that will be signed in the coming days, which has The main objective is to promote labor mobility.

The first bilateral agreement was signed in 1986 and has been in force since April 1, 1988. As Saiz stressed, "the objective is to promote the mobility of insured workers in both countries, thus stimulating bilateral economic activity."

The main developments, as detailed, affect the calculation of Spanish pensions, which will be more beneficial when two calculations are made (a first only with the contributions in Spain and a second adding to these the contributions in the United States, finally paying the most beneficial for the citizen).

This new text also improves the calculation of the regulatory base and the posting period, by extending it to 7 years in duration (5 years of initial posting plus 2 years of extension for both employed and self-employed workers). In addition, the State Passive Classes Regime is incorporated.

The population of Spanish nationality residing in the United States amounts to 192,766 people, according to the Register of Spaniards Resident Abroad (PERE) as of January 1, 2023. It is the third largest, after Argentina and France.

The announcement is part of a press conference with the media at the Spanish Embassy, ​​where he took stock of the agenda in Washington DC between January 23 and 25.

"I want to highlight the highly positive assessment and the great reception with which the Spanish circular migration policies and the complementary pathways to resettlement associated with a labor contract have been received by all the bodies with which I have met," he highlighted. They are measures, he added, "that represent a great guarantee by favoring the employability and inclusion of migrants."

The Spanish delegation has held meetings these days with the Undersecretary of the State Department, Richard R. Verma; with the National Security Council (NSC) of the White House, with Joe Biden's advisor, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and with the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.

Meetings have also been held with important organizations such as the American Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Migration Policy Institute or the Organization of American States.

"We are clearly committed to regular, orderly, safe migration based on humanitarian principles, which requires the collaboration of all the agents involved: countries, administrations, Third Sector entities and NGOs," Saiz stressed.

Hours before, the minister had the opportunity to chat and share reflections with a group of Spanish students at Georgetown University, where she was received by visiting professor and Prince of Asturias professor Juan Luis Manfredi.

The minister has conveyed the Government's interest in the Spanish community in the US. Proof of this, she stated, is the reinforcement of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration with a General Directorate of Spanish Citizenship Abroad and Return Policies. It is in charge, among other functions, of managing the subsidy and aid programs for Spaniards abroad and returning Spaniards, as well as the recognition and management of financial benefits and assistance aid.

"We are focusing on the return plan, with measures to attract talent to Spain. Like the young students, entrepreneurial women, heads of scientific and banking institutions and global funds with whom I had the opportunity to talk yesterday at the embassy" , he stressed.

"I leave the United States satisfied with the good harmony and the shared analysis and reflections. For the recognition of our country project and for the hospitality," concluded the minister.