Montero says that the Government is willing to contribute "with its powers" to the income pact

MADRID, 7 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, has indicated this Thursday that the Government is willing to contribute "with its powers" to the income agreement, as demanded by unions and employers.

This is how the minister responded when asked about the unions' request that the Government incorporate a tax increase for companies into the income pact, while the CEOE asks the Executive to also incorporate the main items of public spending into said pact.

"Yes, the Government is willing to contribute with its powers and the issues that are transcendental for this income agreement, there is a broad package of issues that we have to harmonize in the environment of social dialogue and each one be able to contribute their bit of arena and to modulate the positions we have," said the minister, before participating in the summer courses at the Complutense University in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Montero said that the Government is in favor of contributing whatever is necessary to reach an income pact that supposes, on the one hand, the moderation of business margins and also of salaries to avoid second-round effects.

In this sense, he described the meeting that the Government held yesterday with the social agents as "useful and fruitful", and expressed confidence that both employers and unions, who have shown signs of "responsibility" and "patriotism" in recent years , are able to reach an agreement on the rent agreement, which happens first, as he said, to reach an agreement on the salary increase in the collective agreements.

"It is an essential part of the income pact (salary negotiation), an agreement has to be reached on salary matters, it is an element that we continued to insist on yesterday and when this element is perfectly clear, we will be able to advance in other matters", Montero reiterated, who assured that unions and businessmen were open to being able to address it and continue to resume the rhythm of meetings now interrupted.

Finally, Montero referred to the bonus of 20 cents in the price of fuel, and about possible irregularities, he pointed out that it is the CNMC that is monitoring it, since it is an issue that "concerns and occupies" the Government and, for the moment, the agency has not detected such irregularities.