Lidl and the unions have signed the IV Collective Agreement, which includes a record investment of 280 million until 2030 to improve salaries and working conditions for its workforce in Spain.
Lidl has taken a significant step forward in the retail sector with the signing of its IV Collective Agreement, an agreement that will mobilise 280 million euros over the next four years. The company, which already employs more than 20,000 people in Spain, thus doubles the budget of the previous agreement to safeguard the purchasing power of its workforce and advance work-life balance.
A guaranteed 15% salary increase until 2030
The new labour framework, signed in Barcelona by Lidl Spain's CEO, Claus Grande, and representatives from CCOO and UGT, guarantees a minimum cumulative salary increase of 15% until 2030. This increase, consolidated and secured, will allow workers to regain purchasing power after years of high inflation.
Moreover, the agreement establishes a specific remuneration policy for work on Sundays and public holidays, which, according to the company, places it at the forefront of the sector. In the 2026 fiscal year alone, Lidl will inject 70 million euros to implement the first improvements.
Work-life balance and social rights as a focus
The agreement is not limited to salaries. It includes a package of rights and social benefits aimed at facilitating work-life balance. The company has sought to reinforce its commitment to stable and quality employment, in a context where turnover and precariousness are common challenges in the sector.
Claus Grande, CEO of Lidl Spain, highlighted that
“the signing of this IV Collective Agreement is the consolidation of our commitment to the driving force behind this company: the people. With this agreement, we ensure that our growth always goes hand in hand with the well-being of our collaborators.”
Unions see a model for the sector
Union representatives have valued the pact as a benchmark. Ramón González, General Secretary of CCOO Services, pointed out that
“we are facing a new labour framework that is at the forefront of the sector in terms of salaries and working hours. This agreement should set the path for the negotiation of future collective and sectoral agreements.”
For his part, Antonio Oviedo, General Secretary of FeSMC-UGT, emphasised that
“the signing of this new agreement demonstrates that social dialogue yields results when the parties negotiate with sincere willingness. After years of high inflation, we particularly value that this agreement contributes to recovering purchasing power and distributing the good business results more fairly.”
What it means for workers and the sector
For Lidl employees, the agreement translates into guaranteed salary increases, better remuneration on public holidays, and advances in work-life balance that can make a difference in a sector historically strained by schedules. For the rest of the market, the agreement sets a high bar that other chains will need to consider if they want to retain talent.
The agreement, valid until 2030, applies to more than 20,000 workers in Spain. The company has reminded that this pact is part of its commitment to quality employment, at a time when the retail sector faces challenges such as digitalisation and pressure on margins.
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