The Spanish Ministry of Labor is moving forward with a proposal to reduce the standard workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours by 2025, despite opposition from business groups.
The Secretary of State for Labor, Joaquín Pérez Rey, announced an imminent agreement with major unions UGT and CC OO, following a recent meeting where the business confederation CEOE reiterated its rejection of the plan.
The government has decided to skip an intermediate reduction to 38.5 hours in 2024 due to time constraints.
The proposal, which maintains the current cap on overtime and aims to enhance digital time tracking, will be open for public consultation starting Friday.
While the unions are optimistic about reaching a final agreement, the lack of support from business groups complicates the legislative process, as additional backing from political parties like Junts and PNV will be necessary for the proposal to pass in Congress.
