The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy has prepared a draft royal decree that sets an increase in the Minimum Interprofessional Wage (SMI) for 2027 of 5.3%, bringing it to 1,286 euros per month in 14 payments, which is equivalent to 42.87 euros per day or a total of 18,004 euros annually.
The text, which has been submitted for public hearing and participation, places the increase above the 4.9% proposed by the committee of experts that advises the Government on this matter, although below the 7% demanded by CCOO and UGT. According to the draft, the increase is based on the report issued this week by that group of experts.
Period for allegations and political calendar
The Second Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, has opened a period until November 16 to submit allegations to the draft royal decree. The Government's intention is to try to approve the SMI increase before the general elections on November 29, according to the calendar set by the department.
The report accompanying the text indicates that this increase responds to the right to equitable and sufficient remuneration, and continues the objective that this minimum income reaches 60% of the average wage, in line with the European Social Charter and with the resolutions of the European Committee of Social Rights.
Compensation, absorption and salary limits
Regarding compensation and absorption, the project establishes that the salary review will not affect those professional salaries that, overall and on an annual basis, already exceed the 18,004 euros set as a minimum. In these cases, only remunerations below that threshold must be increased until they reach it.
The royal decree also incorporates a transitional provision of "non-affectation" with the aim of avoiding distortions in non-labor areas. In this way, the new amount will not automatically apply to regional or local regulations that use the SMI as a reference for granting public aid or benefits, nor to private contracts and agreements that use it as a basis, unless the parties or sectoral regulations expressly provide otherwise.
In these cases, the text provides that during 2027 the SMI value prior to the entry into force of the new rule will be maintained.
Specific distribution for temporary contracts and domestic work
The draft also sets specific remunerations for certain groups, including workers with fixed-term contracts whose services in the same company do not exceed 120 days. In that case, the minimum wage will be 60.88 euros per legal working day, an amount that includes the proportional part of Sundays, holidays and the two extraordinary bonuses.
For domestic workers who provide external services by the hour, the minimum wage is set at 10.06 euros per hour actually worked, including all remuneration concepts.
The text also specifies that in all salary modalities, only remuneration in money is computed, without the salary in kind being able to reduce the full amount legally established.