Historic Step in Spain to Reform Labor Laws and Protect Workers' Rights: Workweek to be Limited to 37.5 Hours
According to Spain's Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, the proposal to reduce working hours in Spain is a "historic" step. On Friday, December 20, an agreement was reached between the Spanish government and two major trade unions—UGT (Union General de Trabajadores) and CCOO (Confederacion Sindical de Comisiones Obreras)—to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 37.5 hours.
Historic Step in Spain to Reform Labor Laws and Protect Workers' Rights: Workweek to be Limited to 37.5 Hours
Historic Step in Spain to Reform Labor Laws and Protect Workers' Rights: Workweek to be Limited to 37.5 Hours
According to Spain's Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, the proposal to reduce working hours in Spain is a "historic" step. On Friday, December 20, an agreement was reached between the Spanish government and two major trade unions—UGT (Union General de Trabajadores) and CCOO (Confederacion Sindical de Comisiones Obreras)—to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 37.5 hours.
The change is set to be implemented by the end of 2025, pending approval from Parliament. The agreement will cover approximately 12 million workers and aims to help balance work and personal life while also contributing to reducing carbon emissions.
Minister Díaz described this measure as a repayment of a debt to Spain’s workers, saying, "Today we are repaying a debt to the workers of Spain, to a new generation that sees personal time not as a luxury, but as a fundamental right."
Under the new rules, the 37.5-hour workweek will be averaged annually, and any additional hours worked will be counted as overtime. Strict record-keeping of work hours and regular monitoring will be enforced, with penalties of up to €10,000 for violations.
Unions view this as a significant step toward addressing unstable employment and protecting workers’ rights. However, Antonio Garamendi, president of Spain's main business organization CEOE, has voiced opposition to the proposal. He believes such changes should result from negotiations between unions and business organizations rather than government mandates.
Finance Minister Carlos Cuerpo has proposed extending the timeline for the change to 2026, allowing small businesses more time to adapt and increasing the chances of parliamentary approval. While the government has support from smaller parties, resistance from business groups could pose challenges in passing the proposal in Parliament.
This new measure is seen as an important part of modernizing Spain's labor laws and a significant step toward protecting workers' rights in the post-COVID-19 economic landscape.
