Josep Gonzalez i Sala (Llimiana, Pallars Jussà, 1945) has dropped a gear after 23 consecutive years in the presidency of Pimec. He has dropped a gear, but at 76 years old he is still at the foot of the canyon in terms of business militancy. Now from the presidency of the Pimec Foundation, which brings together the social work of the employers of small and medium-sized Catalan companies. For a couple of months, he has been pulling strings and picking up telephones to try to help receive refugees from the war in Ukraine, trying to find companies that give employment to those people who are fleeing from the bombs.
Inflation, lack of raw materials, logistical problems… What is the problem most frequently reported by SMEs?
The topic energetic It’s the one doing the most damage. Many already have orders committed to a price and the cost skyrockets from one day to the next due to energy. It is something that puts many in danger and obviously we are very concerned.
Two months ago Pimec published a study where it said that 15% could close in the medium term, do you still consider that calculation good today?
When the measures that the Government has agreed with the Union European, and that Pimec has supported, the situation will improve. But the energy problem remains unsolved, to be sure. Much more ambitious and long-term measures are needed.
“Much more ambitious measures are needed against the energy problem”
How do you help them from the Foundation?
In these cases, we refer them directly to Pimec. Since the foundation we have dedicated ourselves to unifying all the social work, which is many and was very dispersed. Our main program, ‘In person‘, is focused on advising entrepreneurs and we created it as a result of the 2007 crisis, when the banks withdrew all credits and liquidity and that caused a brutal mortality of companies, especially micro ones.
With the covid crisis, credits were not lacking
Yes, there were no problems in giving credits but there is a certain rigidity when it comes to returning them. This return must be made more flexible, because if jobs and companies are not put at risk. Unfortunately, our program to advise companies continues to receive many requests. Last year we attended 277 new people and this March we already had 150.
How do they help you?
We work a lot on the concept of second opportunity, give the opportunity to an entrepreneur to recover after a failure. This is something that is still very frowned upon socially in this country. And, in general, the law has not worked very well, although in Catalonia a little better than in the rest of Spain. The judges have had a higher level of sensitivity. Here at the Fundació Pimec, apart from advice, we also help them with a microcredit and psychological support. The latter is very important for them to come back. Some try to look for work as salaried employees in other companies, but it costs them a lot and they end up setting up another project.
Why is it so hard for them to relocate as employees?
Because of the age. For the workers over 45 years old There is still very great discrimination in companies. There is the perception that technologically they are not going to adapt. And we are wasting people with a lot of accumulated experience and who can still contribute a lot for many years. Every day we live longer and we are going to have to retire later! And they tell us that at 45 we are no longer worth it? Has no sense.
“We are wasting people with a lot of experience and who can still contribute a lot”
With the Barcelona City Council they recently signed the first agreement to take care of mental health at work
Much more needs to be said about mental health in companies. The covid has aggravated the level of stress and emotional suffering of the workers and managers of the companies. In this we begin to have a problem and it goes to more. And from the Foundation we are marking it as a priority.
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How do you plan to approach something so intimate?
Yes, it is something intimate. But it is also true that when something like this is dealt with and solutions are sought, it can even become an advantage in the company. Because if the fit is found, that person will be happier and more loyal to the company. What happens is that adaptations have to be made and it is not always easy, but we have to make them.