Pedro Sanchez receives trade union and business leaders at Moncloa Palace

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Acting President of the Government held the first meeting with the General Secretaries of the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), José María Álvarez, and of Comisiones Obreras (CCOO), Unai Sordo, and then received the Presidents of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organisations (Spanish acronym: CEOE) Antonio Garamendi, and of the Spanish Confederation of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CEPYME), Gerardo Cuerva.

After these two meetings, Magdalena Valerio stressed the prevailing consensus with the trade union and business leaders on the importance of social dialogue to address the necessary reforms and thus step up actions to foster the creation of dignified work, of quality and secure jobs, whilst allowing the productivity of companies to be increased at the same time

Social dialogue "is the right framework to regulate social relations, employment policies and social protection; it is also synonymous with agreement, consensus and social peace", stressed the minister, who finalised her speech by recalling that "in order for this dialogue to be fruitful, it is essential for Spain to have a stable government that transmits confidence as soon as possible".

Non official translation