Spain could soon see its standard working week shortened by 2.5 hours, following the cabinet’s approval of a draft bill on Tuesday to reduce it from 40 hours to 37.5 hours.
The proposed legislation, which will now head to a debate and vote in the Spanish Congress, would impact around 12.5 million workers in the private sector, both full-time and part-time. According to the Ministry of Labour, the reform is anticipated to boost productivity and lower absenteeism.
‘Today, we are modernising the world of labour and helping people to be a little happier,’ said Labour Minister and deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz, who also leads the left-wing Sumar party.
Díaz noted that while this reduction is already in place for civil servants and certain other sectors, its main effect would be felt in retail, manufacturing, hospitality and construction.
The initiative comes from Sumar, the minority partner in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s socialist-led coalition. However, the government does not hold a clear majority in parliament, meaning the bill’s future is uncertain and will require negotiation to gain approval.
While the country’s main trade unions, UGT and CCOO, back the proposal, business associations have opposed it. One of the coalition’s occasional allies, the Catalan pro-independence party Junts per Catalunya (JxCat), has also voiced concerns that the shorter workweek could adversely affect small businesses and the self-employed.
To secure the bill’s passage, the coalition will need to carefully navigate the concerns of JxCat and other minor parties.
Spain has maintained a 40-hour workweek since 1983, when it was reduced from 48 hours.
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✅ Hoy el #CMin ha aprobado el proyecto de ley de reducción de la jornada laboral y se envía al @Congreso_Es para su tramitación.
⏰ 37,5h a la semana sin reducción de salario
📲 Registro horario digital y accesible
📵 Derecho a la desconexión pic.twitter.com/dTyGCn7azo
— Ministerio Trabajo y Economía Social (@empleogob) May 6, 2025
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