Spanish ministers agree to cut the legal working week to 37.5 hours with no change in salary, forging ahead with one of the coalition government’s flagship measures despite opposition. source
At the end of 2024, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy and the trade unions to reduce the maximum working week to an annual average of 37.5 hours per week by 2025. Source
Spain’s Ministry of Labour and trade unions have finalised an agreement to reduce the maximum working week to 37.5 hours, with no reduction in pay. source
Gone are public discrepancies between the Minister of Labour, Yolanda Díaz, and the economic body. Díaz accused his partner of blocking the processing by the emergency route and even to oppose the measure, getting to say that it was “almost being a bit bad person”. SourceThe work objective is that the standard is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) before summer so that companies can have some months of adaptation, then, as agreed, collective agreements that have more than 37.5 hours a week of annual average will have until December 31, 2025 to adapt to the maximum day of 37.5 hours.
This is the agreement for the reduction of the working day
Table of Contents
The agreement collects the reduction of working hours to 37.5 hours per week in 2025,maintaining workers’ rights,includes the right to digital disconnection and improves the CONDITIONS OF THE CONDITION OF JAD. The draft is the result of the agreement signed last December by the ministry directed by Yolanda Díaz and CCOO and UGT, and from which business organizations wanted to stay out CEOE and CEPYME, understanding that the working day is a subject that must be set via collective bargaining.
How it affects the reduction of the working day to your contract
According to the draft text,the part-time contracts with duration equal to or greater than 37.5 hours per week of average “will automatically become full-time contracts” from the request of the new legal day.
In case of having contracts with less than 37.5 hours of day,part-time workers,as well as workers with a reduced day,will have the right to continue carrying out the same number of hours they would come before the entry into force of the standard. They will also be entitled to the proportional increase in their salary from the application of the ordinary maximum day of 37.5 hours per week.Certainly! Here is the formatted text for better readability:
Figure 100
!The second vice president of the Government and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz.
Special Work Days
The Government has given a period of 18 months to review, together with the social agents, its regulations to adapt the extensions and limitations in the management and in the duration of the workday to the new maximum legal day.
Fines of up to 10,000 euros for each worker
The Government will fine up to 10,000 euros as a worker to companies that fail to comply with the time registration and the reduction of the maximum weekly day of 37.5 hours.This is a hardening of sanctions in two ways: first, as companies will be fined for each worker with whom the standards are breached and not globally, and secondly, because the amount of fines, typified as severe infractions of the entrepreneurs, will be more notable, from a maximum of 7,500 euros to 10,000 euros.
Thus, according to the draft, the transgression of the norms and the legal limits or agreed day, night work, extra hours, complementary hours, breaks, vacations, permits, registration of day and, in general, the working time will be sanctioned, to its minimum degree, with fines of 1,000 to 2,000 euros; to its average degree, from 2,001 to 5,000 euros and, to its maximum degree, from 5,001 to 10,000 euros.
Workers with Minor Care
Workers with minor care or relatives or who are considered victims of gender violence, sexual violence, or victims of terrorism will also have the right to continue carrying out the same number of hours of work that would come previously.
For these groups, the Umbral Maximum Legal from the reduction of the current day at the time of its beginning it will remain until the right to reduce the day ends, with the absolute limit of December 31, 2026. Alternatively, they can adapt the reduced day they had been doing to the new day Legal expected, within the framework of the schedule they previously enjoyed.
This should make the information more accessible and easier to understand.
Spain descree la semana laboral a 37.5 horas con salarios intactos
El gobierno español ha alcanzado un acuerdo histórico con los sindicatos para reducir la jornada laboral semanal a un promedio de 37.5 horas a partir de 2025, sin disminuir los salarios. Este cambio significativo busca mejorar las condiciones laborales y la calidad de vida de los trabajadores. A continuación, presentamos una entrevista exclusiva con el Senior Editor de world-today-news.com y un especialista en la materia.
Interview with Dr.Ana Martínez, Labor Rights Expert
1. context and Background
Senior Editor: Dr. Martínez, can you provide some context on the recent agreement between spanish ministers and trade unions to reduce the legal working week to 37.5 hours by 2025?
Dr. Martínez: Certainly. This agreement is part of Spain’s broader effort to enhance the work-life balance of its citizens. The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy, led by Yolanda Díaz, has worked closely with trade unions to reduce the maximum working week. This is a landmark decision that aligns Spain with other European countries that have similar regulations.
2. Impact on Workers
Senior Editor: How will this change affect the average worker in terms of their working hours and salary?
Dr. Martínez: The primary benefit is the reduction of working hours without a corresponding reduction in salary. This ensures that workers have more personal time while maintaining their income. It’s a notable step towards improving worker satisfaction and quality of life. Though, companies will have until the end of 2025 to adjust their working conditions to meet these new standards.
3.Addressing Opposition
Senior Editor: There have been public discrepancies between the Minister of Labor and certain economic bodies. How do you see this impact the implementation of the new law?
Dr. Martínez: Yes, there have been tensions. Yolanda Díaz faced opposition from some economic bodies who argued for collective bargaining over government mandates. Despite these challenges, the agreement was finalized with support from key unions like CCOO and UGT. The opposition was largely addressed by emphasizing the benefits to workers and the social structural settings in place.
4. Transition Period
Senior Editor: How long will companies have to comply with the new regulations, and what support can they expect during the transition?
Dr. Martínez: Companies will have until December 31, 2025, to comply with the new 37.5-hour workweek. The government aims to publish the standard before the summer to give companies ample time to prepare. This includes adapting collective agreements that exceed the new standard and accommodating part-time contracts, either by increasing their hours or maintaining their existing arrangements.
5. Special Work Days
Senior editor: What provisions have been made for special work days and workers with particular needs?
Dr. Martínez: The government has allocated 18 months for review and adaptation of current regulations. Workers with minor care responsibilities or special circumstances, like victims of gender violence, will have the right to maintain their current work hours until the end of 2026. Additionally, they can choose to adapt their reduced work hours to the new legal standard within the framework of their previous schedules.
6. Penalties and Enforcement
Senior Editor: What penalties are in place for non-compliance with the new regulations, and how will these be enforced?
Dr.Martínez: The government has introduced fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 euros for infractions. These penalties vary based on the severity of the non-compliance, with significant fines for repeated or serious breaches. The enforcement will be carried out by ensuring accurate time registration and adhering to the legal working hours.
Conclusion
Senior Editor: Dr. Martínez, to wrap up, what are the main takeaways from this agreement, and how do you expect it to impact the Spanish workforce in the coming years?
Dr. Martínez: The main takeaway is that Spain is embarked on a significant effort to improve the well-being of its workers. By reducing the working week without cutting salaries, they are ensuring a better work-life balance. This move is expected to boost morale, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. It’s a win-win situation for both employees and employers, aligning with global trends towards more humane working conditions.
This agreement is a testament to the progressive labor policies iterating across europe, prioritizing workers’ rights and quality of life.As Spain prepares for the implementation, it sets a precedent for other countries to follow.
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