Negotiations between the Ministry of Labour, trade unions and employers on the implementation of the reduction of the working week to 37.5 hours have stalled. Its potential impact on the various economic sectors perpetuates a fruitless tug-of-war between these three actors.

The government’s proposal, with the approval of the trade unions, aims to reduce the legal limit on working hours from 40 to 37.5 hours per week in two phases: to 38.5 hours for the remainder of 2024 and to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week in 2025. This reduction in working time would not have to entail a reduction in pay.

If the proposal for the new working hours is finally implemented, it will, in theory, affect around 70% of the working population in Spain who are employed by others, equivalent to some 16.1 million workers, according to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) for the first quarter of 2024.

In practice, however, although the current legal limit is 40 hours, the average effective working day in Spain is already 37.7 hours for full-time jobs. Therefore, according to the Labour Force Survey (EPA), this measure would affect some 8 million workers who currently work more than 37.5 hours a week.

It has the general support of the population

According to surveys, 80% of the working population in Spain are in favour of a reduction in working hours if it does not involve a reduction in pay. While 70% would still be in favour even if it meant a reduction in pay.

On the other hand, almost two out of every three SMEs and the self-employed, 58.8%, believe that it would not be beneficial. Among the reasons they articulate for this position, 40% state that it does not fit the profile of the company, 17.1% believe that productivity will fall and 10.1% believe that it will cause economic problems.

A familiar pattern of negotiations repeats itself

As happened when the reduction of the working week to 40 hours in 1983 came into force, the new proposal has met with the employers’ refusal. Represented by the CEOE and Cepyme, it is repeating, albeit in more politically correct terms, what it said more than 40 years ago: if people want to work less, they will have to earn less. He argues that reducing working hours would increase personnel costs and affect the competitiveness of companies.

For their part, the CCOO and UGT trade unions show their support for the measure, even so, frustrated by the lack of progress towards a satisfactory agreement, the CCOO’s secretary for trade union action, Mª Cruz Vicente, has warned that “If the negotiations do not progress, we will call for demonstrations”.

In this context, the Ministry of Labour is willing to facilitate a gradual implementation adapted to the needs of different economic sectors. At the same time, the government insists that reducing working hours will be implemented, although it is willing to negotiate the details and deadlines.

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