Spain’s government is pushing through legislation that would reduce the normal workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours with no reduction in pay, according to a report by CTV News.
If passed, the legislation, which was first proposed at the end of 2024, would take effect this year. The legislation would affect around 12 million workers, particularly in the retail, hospitality and agriculture sectors.
Read: 200 U.K. employers adopting permanent four-day workweek
The report noted public sector employees and most large companies in the country already have a 37.5-hour workweek. Employers would be required to maintain a daily digital record of working hours, accessible to the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate and employee representatives.
A separate report by WTW noted Spain is also introducing legislation that would see collective bargaining agreements have to be amended to guarantee employees the right to disconnect after work. It’s also introducing legislation that would increase the minimum wage from 1,134 euros to 1,184 euros per month for employees ages 18 or older, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025.
Read: 32% of employers say minimum wage hikes result in increased wages across their company: survey