Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, and his administration are finalizing the bill that will usher in a pension reform in Spain. Starting from 2027, the retirement age is set to increase from 65 to 67 years. However, reduction coefficients will be introduced, enabling early retirement for certain hazardous professions. Among these is the occupation of truck drivers, which will soon be officially recognized as high-risk and thus eligible for greater protection.
In response to a parliamentary inquiry, the Prime Minister confirmed that drivers would receive early retirement rights based on their years of service, similar to the existing provisions for railway operators, who can retire at the age of 50, provided they have spent at least two decades in the profession.
The reduction coefficient takes into account the dangers of the profession, the rate of workplace accidents, and mortality rates. The Parliament has expressly stated its intention to lower the retirement age for professional drivers. Inés Granollers, spokesperson for Esquerra Republicana, a party in the ruling coalition, noted that the International Labour Organization (ILO) also considers driving among the hazardous professions.
The risk is heightened by the average age of professionals in Spain, which is 50 years—three years above the European average—and often exceeds 55 years. "It is unsafe for drivers, passengers, goods, and all other road users to have individuals over 60 years old driving a vehicle for more than eight hours a day. A truck driver over 55 is three times more likely to suffer a workplace accident compared to the average person employed in another sector," Granollers emphasized during a parliamentary session.
The bill has also been approved by the Commission for Transport and Urban Mobility and has gained broad acceptance in the Spanish Parliament. The only opposition came from the Popular Party and Vox, a far-right group. Some criticisms focus on the criteria for establishing the reduction coefficients, deemed too arbitrary and easily manipulable by any government.
Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, addressed the issue during the Executive Control Session of the Congress: “We are aware of the need to incorporate objective indicators to determine early retirement due to professional activity. We are doing this with a timetable that is on the table for social dialogue to achieve the broadest possible consensus among those who will comply with the agreement's standards.”
The minister also promised greater protection for all maritime workers, including seafarers and dockworkers. She announced that she would present a royal decree at the next Council of Ministers on May 28 to enhance the protection, promotion, and improvement of maritime workers' health, following complaints from a deputy of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV). Should they be recognized as high-risk professionals, maritime workers could also benefit from early retirement.
By Marco Martinelli
