The Official State Gazette (BOE) published this Wednesday the Royal Decree-Law that activates the salary increase of 2.5% for public employees corresponding to 2025, agreed between the Government and the trade unions UGT, CSIF and CCOO. The increase, which comes into force today, will have retroactive effect from January 1 and will be paid in a single payment this December.
This measure is part of the salary agreement reached last week between the Ministry of Civil Service and the unions, which provides for an overall increase of 11% until 2028. CCOO, which did not sign the initial agreement, has finally joined after its approval by the Confederal Council.
Increases through 2028: from 2.5% in 2025 to 2% in 2028
The Royal Decree-Law regulates the increase path foreseen for the coming years:
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2025: 2.5% increase, effective January 1, 2025: 2.5% increase, effective January 1, 2025: 2.5% increase, effective January 1, 2025: 2.5% increase, effective January 1.
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2026: fixed increase of 1.5%, plus an additional 0.5% if inflation equals or exceeds 1.5%.
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2027: 4.5% increase.
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2028: 2% increase.
Although the agreement establishes a cumulative increase of 11%, the unions estimate that, due to the carry-over effect of annual increases, the real increase could reach 11.5%.
An extra pay in December for 540,000 civil servants in the General State Administration
In the case of the General State Administration (AGE), the 540,000 public employees will receive this month an additional payroll with the corresponding arrears since January 2025. For an average salary of 3,300 euros gross per month, this payment will mean an additional 1,140 euros.
The decree specifies that each autonomous community and city council must define its own payment schedule, which may be spread between 2026 and 2028 or paid in full in December 2025.
Upgrade also for 2026
In addition to the 2025 increase, the standard establishes a 1.5% consolidable increase for 2026, effective January 1. If inflation equals or exceeds that percentage, an additional 0.5% will be applied, to be paid in the first quarter of 2027 with retroactive effect.
Thus, between December of this year and January of the following year, public salaries will experience a cumulative increase of 4%.
Last plenary session of the year for its validation
Although the decree enters into force immediately, it must be validated by the Congress within a maximum period of one month. The vote will take place in the next and last plenary session of the year, since the Chamber will not hold sessions during the election campaign in Extremadura or during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
If the Congress does not validate the text, the Royal Decree-Law would be repealed, although this possibility is not contemplated after the trade union support and the agreement reached.
