the new reduction in payrolls that will come into force on January 1 of up to 95 euros less
New change in the payroll of hundreds of workers in Spain. From next January 1, 2026 a mandatory deduction will come into effect: the Intergenerational Equity Mechanism (MEI). This is a surcharge that will be made on Social Security contributions that is intended to strengthen the Reserve Fundthat is, what is colloquially known as the pension piggy bank.
This measure, which has been included in the Official State Gazette (BOE) since 2023, affects companies and workers who jointly assume the contribution percentage. The objective of the MEI is clear: be able to make the system sustainable in the long term and prepare for the retirement of the “baby boom” generation, that is, all those people who were born between 1958 and 1978. And these workers will begin to withdraw from the labor market in the coming years. For this reason, and to prevent it from affecting our country, this mechanism is created.
What will happen to the payroll in January 2026
As we have said previously, the MEI came into force in 2023. This surcharge was 0.6% on the contribution base. What is going to happen now is that From January 2026 this percentage will increase to 0.9%. This discount will be applied automatically. Companies are responsible for calculate it together with all social contributions. In fact, it will be within the “common contingencies-MEI” section on the payroll. For this reason, workers will not have to do any paperwork. Furthermore, the impact on the net monthly salary It will be between 1.8 and 3.7 eurosdepending on the quote.
It must be taken into account that the part borne by the worker increases to 0.15% (until now it was at 0.13%), while that of the company goes to 0.75%.
For example, if a person contributes the estimated maximum base for 2026, that is, 63,180 euros per year, when the 0.15% is applied, their annual deduction will be 94.77 euros. If a worker earns around 28,000 euros per year, the reduction will be 42 euros. However, it is important to note that this It will not have an effect on the future pension. This is information that will not be taken into account when calculating the retirement benefit.
The truth is that the variation of the MEI is not fixed, it is variable. In 2026 it changes, but also there will be a different percentage in 2027, 2028 and 2029. This is how it will look in the coming years:
- 2027. The part corresponding to the workers will be 0.17%, while that of the company will be 0.83%.
- 2028. The part corresponding to the workers will be 0.18%, while that of the company will be 0.92%.
- From 2029 onwards. The part corresponding to the workers will be 0.20%, while that of the company will be 1%.
