The Spanish Government has decided to push through the urgency procedure the reduction of the working week to 37.5 hours, a project that still has to pass through the General Commission of Secretaries of State and Undersecretaries (Cgseys) this week to continue its legislative course. The Second Vice-President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, and the Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, have confirmed their support for the measure after weeks of internal disagreements.
The proposal, which was discussed this Monday in the Delegate Commission for Economic Affairs, seeks to progressively reduce the working day from the current 40 hours a week and will be included in next week’s Council of Ministers for its approval. According to Economy sources, the objective is that this measure, committed in the coalition Government agreement between PSOE and Sumar, comes into force before December 31, 2025. The Ministry of Economy has agreed not to modify the text agreed by the Ministry of Labor with the unions, ensuring its progressive implementation without changes in its initial wording. However, they have pointed out that during the parliamentary procedure, modifications could be introduced to guarantee the sustainability of the measure, especially regarding the impact on small and medium-sized companies. From Economía they have stressed that SMEs will assume more than 50% of the impact of the reform, so it will be key to include flexibility and accompanying measures. “It is essential to guarantee that the reduction of working hours is viable in the long term, adapting to the needs of companies and workers”, said ministerial sources. The urgency of the procedure responds to the Government’s interest in ensuring its approval before the end of the current legislative period, which would make it possible to comply with the commitments acquired and make progress in improving working conditions in Spain.
