The business associations Anice, Fecic, and Agemcex have presented an improvement to their wage proposal in the latest meeting of the Negotiating Commission of the State Collective Agreement for Meat Industries, with the aim of "bringing positions closer and facilitating an agreement" with the trade unions, which have labeled the new offer as "insufficient."
In their updated proposal, the employers of the sector propose to the unions a salary increase of 3.8% for 2026, effective from January 1, along with increases of 2.5% for 2027 and 2% for 2028. In addition to these revisions, there is a guarantee clause linked to the CPI, which includes additional increases of up to 1% for 2026 and up to 1.5% for 2027 and 2028, as detailed in a statement.
The business representation argues that this proposal continues the "effort" made in recent agreements to safeguard the purchasing power of the workforce and advance their working conditions. During this time, the agreed salary increases would have allowed wages to evolve above the growth of prices, along with the reduction of 12 hours in the annual working day set in the previous agreement.
Alongside the wage aspects, the presented offer includes improvements in other labor and social areas, such as the incorporation of tumor indicators in voluntary medical check-ups, adjustments in compensation during vacations, advancements in certain permits and medical accompaniment, as well as the establishment of a Sectoral Observatory of Occupational Health, Absenteeism, and Sustainable Productivity and a renewed regulation of the joint committee.
The meat organizations define their proposal as "generous, balanced, and responsible," aimed at strengthening the conditions of workers without jeopardizing the "competitiveness, investment, and employment" of companies in the sector.
The trade union organizations, on the other hand, consider the package presented by the employers as "insufficient" and maintain that the negotiation is not closed, understanding that there is still room to continue bringing positions closer.
Both parties have been summoned to a new mediation session at the Interconfederal Mediation and Arbitration Service (SIMA) on October 16, where they will attempt to unblock the agreement.
Anice, Fecic, and Agemcex emphasize that they maintain their willingness to continue negotiating with the union representation before that date, within the mediation process itself, and, if necessary, also afterwards.