Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Pimec to Join Spain’s Economic and Social Council for the First Time
Catalan business group Pimec will join Spain’s Economic and Social Council for the first time, represented by its Madrid delegate, Ferran Bel.
The council advises the government on economic, social and labour issues.
The Labour Ministry has started replacing members whose terms have expired, seeking to update the council’s membership.
The 61-member body includes seats for unions, employer groups, experts and professional organisations.
Two employer-group seats previously assigned to CEOE are going to Pimec and the Balearic group Pimeb, leaving CEOE to appoint 18 members.
CEOE says the ministry is improperly interfering with its powers, while the government says regional organisations have a legal right to take part in national social dialogue.
Organisations are being asked to nominate their members as the renewal process continues.
Pimec will enter Spain’s Economic and Social Council (CES) for the first time, with its Madrid delegate Ferran Bel designated to represent it.
The Ministry of Labour has started the process to replace CES members whose terms have expired.
The ministry told the Spanish business confederation CEOE that two of its former seats would go to Pimec and the Balearic employers’ group Pimeb.
The government says the change will give more representative regional organisations a place in national social dialogue, while CEOE opposes the move.
- Who
- Pimec, represented by Ferran Bel, will join the CES. The Balearic employers’ group Pimeb will also receive a seat.
- What
- The Ministry of Labour has begun replacing CES members whose terms have expired, reallocating two seats previously assigned to CEOE.
- When
- The process began on Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Spain’s Economic and Social Council, a government advisory body on socioeconomic and labour matters.
- Why
- The government says the change will ensure representation for the most representative organisations at regional and national level.
Spanish government
CEOE
Seat allocation
Spanish government
The government says regional employers’ groups should be represented in national social dialogue.
CEOE
CEOE says the government is illegitimately intruding on its competencies.
Renewal process
Spanish government
The Ministry of Labour began renewing CES membership to update its composition.
CEOE
CEOE president Antonio Garamendi objected to activating the renewal during the pre-election period, saying members’ terms had expired more than a year and a half earlier.
The Ministry of Labour sent letters asking organisations represented on the CES to designate their members.
The ministry launched the process to replace CES members whose terms had expired.
CEOE president Antonio Garamendi criticised the ministry’s decision at an event in Madrid.
- Pimec representative
- Ferran Bel
- CES membership
- 61 members: 60 councillors and a president
- Seats for trade unions
- 20
- Seats for business organisations
- 20, including two allocated to Pimec and Pimeb
- Seats for experts and professional organisations
- 20
What people are saying
guarantee the representation of the most representative organisations at state and regional level