Video: @enriquetomas / IG

Businessman Advocates for Living Wage in Barcelona

Enrique Tomás, founder of the ham shop chain bearing his name, has reiterated his stance that no worker in Barcelona should earn less than 1,500 euros net per month. Speaking in a recent interview on the podcast 'Conversaciones en las Alturas', the Badalona-born entrepreneur said: "It cannot be that people are working and are poor, it's impossible." Tomás argues that in high-cost cities like Barcelona and Madrid, earning below this threshold leads to significant financial strain. He highlighted that even a household income of 3,000 euros per month, equivalent to two adults earning 1,500 euros each, must stretch to cover rent, food, utilities, and transport, leaving little room for emergencies or savings.

Company Policy Set at 1,500 Euros Net

After the pandemic, Tomás implemented a company-wide policy ensuring all employees earn at least 1,500 euros net monthly. He acknowledged the decision drew criticism from some fellow business owners but defended it as a matter of survival, not generosity. A report by KSNET and Daleph, cited in an article by ARA, found that a single person in the Barcelona metropolitan area needs 1,722 euros net per month, or 2,189 euros gross, to live with dignity. This is 54% more than Spain's current minimum wage.

Housing Costs Drive Financial Pressure

According to analysis by Oxfam, 28.3% of working people in Catalonia who live in rented housing are poor after paying for accommodation, compared to 6.1% of those with mortgages. Housing represents 58% of an average person's budget in Barcelona. Global Finance Calculators data from April 2026 shows that $1,500 per month (approximately €1,380) covers only basic expenses in Barcelona, with average rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $864 (€795). The calculator rates this as a "tight budget" for both Madrid and Barcelona. Tomás also raised concerns about working conditions in larger companies, suggesting that some middle managers create abusive environments that business owners may not fully control.

"It cannot be that people are working and are poor, it's impossible,"

, Enrique Tomás, founder of Enrique Tomás ham shop chain

Sources: ABC, Diputació de Barcelona, Ara, Global Finance Calculators.