Spain's left-leaning coalition government has taken a significant step toward reshaping the country's labour landscape. On Tuesday, the cabinet approved a bill that would reduce the standard working week from 40 hours to 37.5 hours, a change that would affect roughly 12.5 million full-time and part-time workers in the private sector.
The proposal, which must still pass through the Spanish parliament, is a flagship initiative of Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, leader of the hard-left party Sumar, the junior partner in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's coalition. Díaz framed the reform as a modernisation of the workplace, telling reporters: "Today, we are modernising the world of labour and helping people to be a little happier."
If enacted, the shorter week would apply across a broad swath of the economy, including retail, manufacturing, hospitality, and construction. Public-sector employees and workers in several other sectors already enjoy the reduced hours, so the change would primarily extend the benefit to private businesses.
The government argues that a shorter workweek could boost productivity and reduce absenteeism, a claim supported by the Ministry of Labour. However, the measure faces an uncertain path through the Cortes Generales, where Sánchez's coalition lacks a clear majority. The main trade unions have voiced support, but business associations have expressed strong opposition, warning of increased costs and administrative burdens.
Political hurdles ahead
To secure passage, the coalition will need to win over smaller parliamentary groups, including the Catalan nationalist party Junts, which has occasionally backed Sánchez's government. Junts has raised concerns about the potential negative impact on small companies and the self-employed, who may struggle to adapt to shorter hours without cutting productivity or raising wages.
The bill's fate will depend on delicate negotiations. Sumar, which proposed the legislation, will have to balance the demands of Junts and other potential allies. The government's ability to pass the bill could also influence its broader legislative agenda, which has faced repeated setbacks in a fragmented parliament.
Spain has maintained a 40-hour workweek since 1983, when it was reduced from 48 hours. The current proposal marks the first major reduction in over four decades and reflects a broader European conversation about work-life balance and the future of labour. Several pilot projects across Spain, including a smaller trial in Valencia, have already experimented with four-day weeks, and the new bill could accelerate such trends.
If approved, Spain would join a small group of European countries that have legislated shorter working hours, though most have done so through collective bargaining rather than national law. The move could also influence debates in other EU member states, where productivity and worker well-being are increasingly linked to working time.
The bill now enters a period of parliamentary scrutiny, with amendments likely. The government hopes to have it enacted before the end of the current legislative term, but the political arithmetic remains tight. For now, Spanish workers and employers alike are watching closely, aware that the outcome could reshape the country's economic and social fabric.
