255 news · newest first · updated every morning
Jobs and labour in Spain: hiring trends, workers' rights, minimum wage (SMI), strikes, and workplace reforms. Essential reading if you work here or plan to.
Get work news in your inbox every morning →Spain's unemployment rate rose from 9.87% to 10.18% in July-September, according to INE (national statistics institute). Employment still reached a record 22.85 million. The quarter added 73,600 jobs, the weakest third-quarter gain in seven years, while unemployment rose by 95,900.
→ Read the full digestUber Eats has agreed with UGT and CCOO that 4,286 self-employed riders will become Quinde Crew employees from November 30. The deal also improves conditions for more than 8,000 riders. A commission will monitor compliance for three years.
→ Read the full digestThe government plans to keep the next SMI (minimum wage) rise free of IRPF (personal income tax). The Labour Ministry plans to publish its proposal in the week of November 2, with ministers then setting the amount. About 2.5 million workers earn the SMI, the government says.}
→ Read the full digestMadrid's education strike committee threatens court action unless the regional government negotiates over the strike that began on October 14. Demands include smaller classes and a pay rise of 600 euros a month in 14 payments. Education councillor Mercedes Zarzalejo calls the demands unachievable.
→ Read the full digestA nationwide Renfe drivers' strike on Thursday, October 29 may change rail services. Authorities have set minimum services: in Catalonia, 66% must run at peak times and 33% otherwise. Union SEMAF seeks stronger safety rules during weather alerts. Renfe advises passengers to check services before travelling.
→ Read the full digestWage guarantee clauses cover 3.64 million employees, or 19% of workers registered with Social Security. These clauses provide extra pay as prices rise; 1.3 million workers have retroactive protection. Higher energy and fuel prices are also pushing up employers' costs.
→ Read the full digestOlder workers accounted for more than 1.1 million job terminations in five years, with 56% affecting people aged 45 to 54. The article says companies cut costs by shedding older, better-paid staff and use layoffs to make their workforces younger.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security has yet to approve 2027 contribution tables or convene talks with self-employed groups. The election call threatens to leave the review required under the 2022 agreement in limbo. Advisers expect current brackets to continue, but warn workers to budget for a possible retroactive rise.
→ Read the full digestEmployers' group CEOE will not challenge the November 11 general strike before it takes place, sources told EFE on October 22. Its president, Antonio Garamendi, had said days earlier that he would. Unions called the strike over housing and wages. They say mass afternoon demonstrations will be key.
→ Read the full digestA Royal Decree-law expanding Social Security benefits took effect on October 21, though some provisions start later. It covers menopause-related leave and widows' pensions. Unmarried couples with children who are not registered partners qualify for a widow's pension after at least two years of uninterrupted cohabitation before the death.
→ Read the full digestThe government guaranteed a 4.5% pay rise from January 1, 2027, under its existing agreement covering more than three million public employees. Unions want formal approval before the November 29 election. An extra 0.5% for 2026 depends on year-end inflation reaching at least 1.5%.
→ Read the full digestEmployers' group CEOE plans to challenge the November 11 general strike in court, arguing it lacks a work-related motive. Its board is due to debate the move on October 21. Unions registered the housing strike on October 19.
→ Read the full digestRetirement rule changes take effect on January 1, 2027. Retiring at 65 with a full pension will require at least 38 years and 6 months of contributions; otherwise, the standard age will be 67. Voluntary early retirement remains possible up to 24 months earlier, with pension cuts.
→ Read the full digestThe Economy Ministry has postponed a statistic from INE (national statistics institute) that is more than a year late. Experts estimate 800,000 to 900,000 workers on permanent contracts with intermittent work are inactive but excluded from unemployment figures. Wider use of these contracts since 2021 makes the data gap more significant.
→ Read the full digestMore than 3.4 million people could work from home but their employers do not allow it, according to a UGT study. They account for 16.1% of employed people, based on a 2025 survey. The union blames a culture of office attendance; more than three million people already work remotely.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security affiliation rose by almost 750,000 over a year, but unemployment fell by just 42,000. Contributors reached a record 22.43 million. Registered unemployment fell 1.74% year on year in September, compared with 5.97% a year earlier, showing that job growth is not producing an equally sharp fall in unemployment.
→ Read the full digestThe Supreme Court ruled that employees can claim five days of paid care leave whenever a new qualifying situation arises, rejecting a five-day annual cap. The leave covers serious illness, accidents, hospital stays, and surgery requiring home rest for eligible relatives and people sharing the employee's home.
→ Read the full digestSemaf has called a 24-hour Renfe drivers' strike for October 29 after talks failed on October 16. The union says safety and staffing commitments have stalled; Renfe says it has met them. Semaf also announced Ouigo strikes on October 30, November 2, 6, and 9, and December 4 and 8.
→ Read the full digestTeachers in Madrid are using rotating shifts and resistance funds to sustain an indefinite strike, with each strike day costing about €100 in lost pay. Early childhood educators in the PLEI platform have been on strike since April. The strike adds pressure on Ayuso.
→ Read the full digestThousands of teachers, students, and families marched in Madrid on October 16, the third day of an indefinite teachers' strike. Teachers demand a €600 pay rise, smaller classes, and fewer teaching hours. The strike covers schools from infant to secondary level.
→ Read the full digestRules now in force give domestic workers equal access to Social Security birth, adoption, and childcare benefits. Payments equal 100% of the regulatory base for the month before leave begins. Workers must be registered and meet age-based contribution requirements; those under 21 need no prior contributions.
→ Read the full digestCEOE president Antonio Garamendi called it 'incredible' that the government is using its power to raise the SMI during the electoral period. CCOO and UGT demand at least a 7% rise to 1.300 euros in 2027, plus a ban on companies absorbing the increase through salary supplements.
→ Read the full digestForeign Social Security affiliation hit a record of 3.635.979 contributors in September, up 84.220 from August and 17,7% year-on-year. Foreign workers now make up 16,2% of all contributors. A total of 421.306 were registered through the extraordinary regularization process, including 326.256 in the Régimen General and 22.681 autónomos (self-employed).
→ Read the full digestCCOO and UGT asked the government to raise Spain's minimum wage (SMI) by at least 7%, targeting 1.300 euros gross per month in 14 payments by 2027. The current SMI is 1.221 euros after a 3,1% rise in 2026. Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz intends to approve an increase before the 29 November elections, and the demand will also be among the grievances behind the 11 November general strike.
→ Read the full digestThe autónomo association ATA sent parties 10 proposals ahead of the elections. It proposes a zero Social Security quota for newly registered self-employed workers during their first two years, with a third year free for under-30s, new mothers and those earning below the SMI. Autónomos billing under 85.000 euros a year could choose whether to charge VAT and file annually instead of quarterly.
→ Read the full digestFrom 1 January 2027, workers need at least 38 years and six months of contributions to retire at 65; otherwise they must wait until 67. The pension calculation period expands from 25 years and four months to 25 years and eight months, discarding the four worst months. Congress is processing a law to remove early-retirement penalties for people with more than 40 years of contributions, though a similar initiative was rejected in June 2026.
→ Read the full digestNew retirement pensions in Spain topped €1.700 per month for the first time in August, averaging €1.711,4. From January 1, 2027, workers need 38 years and 6 months of contributions to retire at 65 without penalties, and 37 years for 100% of the regulatory base. Those below that threshold must wait until 67.
→ Read the full digestA general strike over housing access and wages is set for November 11, the first involving UGT and CCOO since 2012. So far this year, 502.536 Social Security affiliates have joined ordinary strikes, and 579.000 when including general strikes, with 1,2 million working days lost. A higher participation total would require going back 17 years.
→ Read the full digestUnions CCOO and UGT will file a general strike call next week for November 11 to demand better wages and access to decent housing. General secretaries Pepe Álvarez and Unai Sordo will give details on Tuesday, October 13. Employers' association CEOE argues the strike is illegal because it does not stem from a labour dispute.
→ Read the full digestThe government approved Real Decreto 739/2026, allowing former professional athletes to count pre-integration periods in the Régimen General as contributed years, rather than a refund. It applies from March 15, 1980 to each discipline's integration date. Integration varied: cyclists in 1992, basketball players in 1993, handball players in 1998.
→ Read the full digestYolanda Díaz opened the expert commission on the SMI and asked it to recommend a raise that at least offsets inflation, citing CPI running at 4,9% year-on-year. The report is being sought sooner than usual so that the minimum wage could rise before the November 29 elections.
→ Read the full digestThe Semaf train drivers' union called six strike days at Ouigo around the November and December public holidays, including 24-hour stoppages on October 30 and November 2. The action affects high-speed travellers in 15 provinces.
→ Read the full digestTenant unions and major trade unions including UGT, CCOO, CGT and CNT have called a 24-hour general strike for Wednesday, November 11 over Spain's housing crisis. It follows Congress's rejection of two housing decrees and the government's re-approval pending validation. Pedro Sánchez has called early elections for November 29. Unions link housing costs to stagnant wages.
→ Read the full digestLabour Minister Yolanda Díaz has convened the advisory commission to begin preparing the 2027 SMI (salario mínimo interprofesional) rise before the November 29 election. The committee normally recommends a range for employers and unions, but the government can raise the SMI in a caretaker role. The 2026 SMI is €1.221 gross per month in 14 payments.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Labour Inspectorate regularised 47.143 false self-employed workers in 2025, six times more than in 2024, after an extraordinary campaign targeting digital platforms and delivery firms not complying with the Ley Rider. In total, 131.645 jobs entered the formal economy and €1.212 million in Social Security contributions were uncovered.
→ Read the full digestCCOO and UGT have called the first general strike of Pedro Sánchez's time in office, over housing, shortly before the general election. The unions escalated the protests by the Sindicato de Inquilinas after Congress rejected the housing Royal Decree-Laws. They link the strike to insufficient wages, arguing that decent pay is needed to afford housing, because purely political strikes are illegal in Spain.
→ Read the full digestThe Supreme Court has upheld Just Eat's use of subcontractors for food delivery, overturning a Labour Inspectorate finding of illegal worker transfer. The court confirmed that Fleet Delivery Solutions has its own business organisation, traffic managers and digital tools, and found no evidence that Just Eat controlled hiring, shifts or contracts. The ruling validates the subcontracting arrangement for delivery in parts of Catalonia.
→ Read the full digestCompanies must now give workers more details on salaries, hours, probation periods and any algorithms or AI affecting them. Workers can request the information, and employers must reply within 30 business days. New contracts must include these additional details.
→ Read the full digestCCOO and UGT announced they will join the Sindicat de Inquilinas to call a 24-hour general strike this autumn over housing and wages. The final date will be decided with social organizations, and the stoppage would bring the country to a halt during the election campaign.
→ Read the full digestSince the labor reform took effect, 3,2 million workers have been dismissed with no compensation and no obligation for the company to justify the dismissal. It is one of the gaps left by the rule that overhauled hiring by limiting temporary employment. The government says it aims to clamp down on the practice.
→ Read the full digestAlberto Núñez Feijóo proposed reforms that would allow mutuas (employer mutual insurers) to issue sick-leave discharges for certain pathologies and run diagnostic tests. Sick leave is currently managed by the public health system, a red line in Spain. The proposal is part of PP's labor agenda responding to business demands, and Feijóo has previously floated cutting sick-leave pay and benefits.
→ Read the full digestCEOE president Antonio Garamendi said a general strike over housing is not within the law because it does not stem from a labor conflict. He said he agrees there is a real housing crisis, but warned that there would be a reaction if a strike were called, and that it would affect business activity. He spoke at the Foro La Toja Vínculo Atlántico in O Grove, Pontevedra.
→ Read the full digestSpain added 92,327 Social Security contributors in September, a record for September, reaching 22,437,553 contributors. Of about 90,000 new contributors, 84,220 were foreigners, driven by the migrant regularization process. Registered unemployment rose by 23,587 to 2,379,505, the lowest since September 2007.
→ Read the full digestFrom January 1, 2027, pensions will be calculated using the 304 highest contribution bases among the 308 months before retirement, excluding the four lowest. The selected bases are divided by 354,67 to set the regulatory base. A transition period protects workers if the new formula yields a lower pension.
→ Read the full digestSince August 28, pensioners can return to work as employees or autónomos (self-employed) without giving up their pension. Employee contracts allow a working day of 33% to 80% of full time, with pension top-ups of 15% or 25% depending on hours. The pension amount is adjusted according to the hours worked.
→ Read the full digestPP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo said that if he comes to power, he will allow mutuas (work-injury insurers) to issue medical discharges for some sick leaves. He again claimed there is fraud in sick leave granted by public health doctors and called absenteeism a serious problem. The proposal is an opposition pledge, not adopted policy.
→ Read the full digestStarting in 2027, workers need 37 full years of contributions for 100% of the regulatory base, up from 36 years and six months. Workers with 38 years and six months or more can retire at 65; otherwise the ordinary retirement age is 67. A new formula allows workers to choose the 304 highest contribution bases within the last 308 months.
→ Read the full digestFrom January 1, 2027, workers must have contributed 38 years and six months to retire at 65 with a full pension. Those with fewer contributions must wait until 67. The 2011 pension reform's transitional period ends on January 1, 2027.
→ Read the full digestThe Congress approved debating a Podemos bill to remove pension penalties for early retirement with 40 or more years of contributions. PSOE backed the measure in a 178-136-33 vote; the PP abstained and Vox opposed. Those already retired could request recalculation, but the bill may stall before the legislature ends.
→ Read the full digestA Barcelona judge sent Glovo founder Oscar Pierre to trial for keeping delivery riders as false autónomos (self-employed). The judge rejected his request to archive the case and accepted the request from the Fiscalía and the CGT union. Pierre is accused of undermining workers' rights and cutting costs by not guaranteeing a professional salary.
→ Read the full digestPSOE and Sumar voted to admit Podemos' bill allowing early retirement without pension penalties for people with at least 40 years of contributions. Months ago, PSOE voted against a similar reform. The proposal now moves to the Congress plenary.
→ Read the full digestSelf-employed workers (autónomos) face an extra €148 per month because of higher electricity and fuel prices, according to UPTA. Transport, agriculture and livestock are the most exposed sectors as energy prices climb amid the Iran war. The added cost hits monthly budgets directly.
→ Read the full digestAdministration of Justice staff and court clerks move to a 35-hour working week on September 22, with an annual total of 1,512 hours. Hours between 17:00 and 22:00 count double; nights, weekends and holidays count as 2.5 times. The rule includes summer intensive hours and flexible entry and exit times.
→ Read the full digestAutónomos (self-employed workers) still do not know their 2027 Social Security contributions because the reform remains stalled. Pending changes include cese de actividad and corrections to paternity, maternity and medical leave penalties; unions and associations are urging the Ministry of Social Security to resume negotiations.
→ Read the full digestThe government has approved its first occupational health protocol for workers exposed to radon, a colorless, odorless, carcinogenic gas. It covers workers receiving doses above 6 millisieverts and applies to priority zones in more than 1,600 municipalities. In Galicia, where 91% of municipalities are priority zones, radon is linked to about 300 lung cancer deaths per year.
→ Read the full digestThe average gross salary in Spain rose 4.2% year-on-year in Q2 2026 to €2,464 per month. Hourly wage costs rose 4.4% to €19.41. August inflation of 4.3% erased much of the purchasing power gain, with the largest salary increases in education (9.6%) and public administration (8.4%).
→ Read the full digestSpanish pensioners living abroad must complete the "fe de vida" (proof of life) procedure by September 30, 2026, or their pension will be suspended. The right is not permanently lost, but payments stop until the procedure is done. The VIVESS app allows facial biometric recognition from abroad; consular offices are also an option.
→ Read the full digestBanco Santander has begun negotiations with unions for a restructuring process (ERE) in its technology subsidiaries SDS, SGTO and Gravity, which employ around 13,000 people worldwide. No negotiating table has been set up yet, and the number of job cuts is unknown. It would be Santander's first ERE since the pandemic.
→ Read the full digestPeople who completed unpaid internships before 2024 can recover up to five years of social security contributions through a special agreement. Applications must be formalized before December 31, 2028. Eligible periods include university, vocational, artistic, sports and research training.
→ Read the full digestThe Intergenerational Equity Mechanism contribution will rise from 0.90% in 2026 to 1% in 2027. Companies will pay 0.83 percentage points and workers 0.17 percentage points, meaning a small payroll deduction increase for employees. The rate reaches 1.1% in 2028 and 1.2% in 2029.
→ Read the full digestFrom October 5, companies must provide workers with more information on salaries, schedules, probation periods, and any use of algorithms or AI in decisions like pay, promotions, or dismissals. Existing workers can request the data; employers have 30 business days to respond. The decree transposes a 2019 EU directive.
→ Read the full digestThe European Commission approved rules for fair labor mobility, including a digital European Social Security Passport. Workers and companies across the EU will be able to digitally request and receive documents such as the European Health Insurance Card and the A1 form by the end of the year.
→ Read the full digestSpain reached 3,551,759 foreign workers registered with Social Security, representing 15.9% of the workforce. Foreign employment grew 15.7% over 12 months, adding nearly 500,000 jobs, while employment among Spanish nationals rose just 1.1%. About 71% of all new contributors in the past year are foreign.
→ Read the full digestWorkers in Spain have an individual, non-transferable right to eight weeks of parental leave per child until the child turns 8. It can be taken continuously or discontinuously, full-time or part-time where allowed, with at least 10 days' notice. In practice, it operates as a suspension of the contract with job reservation, though details on pay remain incomplete.
→ Read the full digestAs inflation hit 4.3% in August, unions CCOO and UGT demand reform of rules that let companies absorb minimum wage increases through salary supplements. The minimum wage (SMI) is €1,221 gross per month. A worker earning €1,250 — €1,150 base plus €100 night pay — saw no raise when the SMI rose; the Supreme Court has endorsed the absorption practice.
→ Read the full digestTerminations for failing probation under permanent contracts rose from 132,534 in 2019 to 723,763 last year, more than fivefold. Total probation dismissals exceeded 1 million, up 51.5% from 675,555 in 2019. The Labor Ministry is investigating suspected fraudulent use of probation periods.
→ Read the full digestA lack of qualified staff is forcing bars and restaurants to close in Spain. According to a report by The Fork, 22% of hospitality owners cite hiring difficulties as the main cause of permanent closure. Hostelería España confirms businesses are cutting hours or service areas, with more than 138,000 vacancies in the services sector in Q1 2026.
→ Read the full digestFord presented its final offer to the Almussafes (Valencia) workforce through 2030, combining pay increases above real CPI with up to eight mandatory production Saturdays a year. For 2027, the increase equals real CPI plus 1.5 percentage points, with a guaranteed minimum of 3% and a maximum of 5%. The offer raises the extraordinary bonus and adds new incentives. It follows Ford's deal with China's Geely to bring new models to the plant and secure its industrial future.
→ Read the full digestA Fedea study finds workers who delay retirement and take the lump-sum payment receive about half of what they would get with a lifetime pension increase. Researchers analyzed 280 profiles combining sex, age, years of delay and pension level. In none of them was there actuarial equivalence; the lifetime increase always won. For the average retiree, every €51.20 from the lump sum could have been €100 with the lifetime supplement.
→ Read the full digestUGT leader Pepe Álvarez urged the government to unblock two decrees: one tightening working-time registration and another changing minimum wage absorption rules. The SMI change aims to stop wage rises from absorbing salary supplements for workers just above the minimum wage. Stricter timekeeping has been mandatory since 2019, but the new measure would eliminate paper records and give the Labor Inspectorate real-time access.
→ Read the full digestThe cabinet approved a decree curbing abusive probation-period dismissals and requiring companies to inform workers when algorithms affect employment decisions. Probation periods beyond the Workers' Statute default of six months now need clearer justification of conditions and causes. Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz said 75% of companies reviewed by labour authorities commit irregularities in this area. Dismissals during probation topped one million last year, up 51% from 2019.
→ Read the full digestCCOO leader Unai Sordo said Monday that the minimum wage must rise 'above 5%' in 2027 and that he will not reach an agreement unless the Government reforms how companies absorb the increase through wage supplements. The current SMI is €1,221 gross per month and August inflation was 4.3%. CCOO and UGT will present a joint concrete proposal. Sordo makes agreement conditional on reforming absorption and compensation of salary supplements, so companies cannot offset the SMI rise. He said without that reform there is 'no' SMI deal.
→ Read the full digestA rule to be approved Tuesday by the Council of Ministers, transposing an EU directive, will force Spanish employers to put overtime, holidays, shift changes and other conditions in writing and to justify probation-period dismissals. Contracts must include written details such as overtime, vacations and shift changes before a worker starts. Dismissals during the probation period will require justification, although they may still be cost-free for employers. Foreign employees will have stronger legal grounds to demand clarity about schedules and extras.
→ Read the full digestAirbus workers in Cádiz, Tablada (Sevilla) and Illescas (Toledo) voted to suspend their indefinite strike provisionally, while the Getafe plant voted to continue after a pre-agreement was reached with company mediation by the Industry Ministry. The strike began Aug. 25. The pre-agreement will be put to a binding referendum this month.
→ Read the full digestAround 3.5 million autónomos (self-employed workers) in Spain face unresolved social security contribution quotas and no improvements to their unemployment benefit. Political deadlock has stalled the changes, while rising costs, partly driven by the Middle East war, add pressure. For self-employed foreign residents, the delay leaves contribution levels and unemployment protections unclear.
→ Read the full digestTeachers are striking in Catalonia, Madrid, Andalusia and other regions as the new school year begins. The Education Ministry has approved a reduction in teaching hours and students per class as a first step, with reforms on ratios and oposiciones still pending. Unions warn of deteriorating working conditions and impacts on teachers' mental health. Families with school-age children may see disruptions and changes in class sizes.
→ Read the full digestThe government will approve a royal decree on Tuesday to transpose the EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions, which has been awaiting transposition since August 2022. Companies must specify whether algorithms intervene in labor relations, including schedules, salaries or contract termination, and justify probation periods. Brussels has taken Spain to the European Court of Justice over the delay. The measure aims to combat precariousness.
→ Read the full digestBarcelona prosecutors want Glovo founder and CEO Oscar Pierre tried for keeping riders as autónomos (self-employed) despite Labor Inspection orders and Supreme Court rulings. They see evidence of a crime against workers' rights under Penal Code Article 311.2. Pierre's defense sought dismissal in July; Pierre accused the Labor Inspection of bias. Glovo changed its labor model after the 'ley Rider' was approved.
→ Read the full digestWorkers who take voluntary early retirement can face a permanent pension cut of up to 15%, even after contributing more than 41 years, according to Social Security. In 2026, the legal retirement age is 66 years and 10 months for those with under 38 years and 3 months of contributions, or 65 years for those with more. Early retirement can be taken up to 24 months before the ordinary age. Penalties range from 3.26% to 21%.
→ Read the full digestIndustry Minister Jordi Hereu announced an agreement in principle between Airbus and majority unions CCOO, ATP, SIPA and UGT after a 35-day strike. The deal would let workers recover purchasing power through raises above inflation and includes telework and canteen rights. CGT and ÚTIL were excluded from the ministry meeting. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury attended.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Social Security offers several benefits that many eligible families fail to claim. A €1,000 tax-free one-time payment is available to single-parent families, large families, and families with a parent who has a disability rating of 65% or more. The income limit for the full amount starts at €15,356 per year for one child. For twins, the benefit is four times the SMI (€4,530); for triplets, eight times (€9,070). Payments range from €1,000 to more than €5,900 per year and must be requested explicitly.
→ Read the full digestSpain's flexible retirement reform, in force since Aug. 28, allows pensioners to return to work and combine a salary with part of their pension. Under Royal Decree 416/2026, they can work between 33% and 80% of a full-time schedule while receiving a proportional pension. Economist Begoña Cueto says two or three groups will find the option attractive, particularly those in professions that do not require great physical effort. The measure aims to avoid an abrupt jump from full-time work to full retirement.
→ Read the full digestUnder Article 46 of the Workers' Statute, employees with at least one year of seniority can request up to two years of unpaid leave to care for a dependent relative. The leave covers a spouse, a de facto partner, or relatives up to the second degree. The person receiving care must be dependent and must not be in paid work. For children, the leave extends to three years per child, including adoption and fostering. Collective agreements can extend the two-year maximum.
→ Read the full digestRegistered unemployment in August rose by 44,419 people, up 1.92%, after the June 30 regularization added claimants to SEPE. Social Security lost 162,840 contributors, while 337,917 regularized foreign workers were registered by August 31. The same wave lifted the contributor-to-pensioner ratio to 2.5, a 16-year high. More than 350,000 workers have entered formal jobs, strengthening pensions but straining employment services.
→ Read the full digestThe government will not raise the minimum wage further in 2026, keeping it at €1,221 gross per month in 14 payments. The decision comes despite provisional August inflation of 4.3%, meaning nearly 2.5 million workers will lose purchasing power. The government cited the Middle East war as a contributing factor and rejected union demands for an additional increase. Minimum-wage earners will see rising prices outpace pay.
→ Read the full digestA Eurofound report ranks Spain third in the EU for the smallest gain in minimum wage purchasing power in early 2026, behind Romania and Poland. Spain's minimum wage is among the most threatened as inflation reaches 3.6%. Slovenia had the highest real increase, above 13%, followed by Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia and Cyprus. Unions demand an urgent rise in the SMI.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Industry Ministry is preparing to mediate in the indefinite Airbus strike that began on August 24, warning the conflict threatens the aerospace sector's future. Secretary of State for Industry Jordi García Brustenga said 'We cannot play with the bread of the next 30 years.' The government may intervene in the coming days if there is no agreement.
→ Read the full digestEarly childhood educators in Madrid are starting the school year on an indefinite strike that began April 7, demanding better pay and conditions. Schools will operate with minimum services, reducing educational quality and personalized attention for children aged 0-3. Educators warn the adaptation period will be 'very delicate' in the coming months. Families with young children in Madrid may feel the impact.
→ Read the full digestThe government will approve a €168 million emergency plan for Ceuta, equal to 8% of the territory's GDP. The reinforced ERTE will grant unemployment benefits without prior contributions, and hiring bonuses will rise from 50% to 75%. Companies can receive 100% bonuses. The measures will also apply in Melilla.
→ Read the full digestStarting Sept. 1, Social Security will replace paper letters with electronic notifications for all temporary or permanent disability applications. Applicants may receive SMS or email alerts, but legal documents are available via the electronic office. Safeguards remain for people with limited digital access.
→ Read the full digestWorkers at Airbus plants in Getafe, San Pablo and Tablada voted to continue their indefinite strike. Employees at Illescas voted last Friday to pause the mobilization. The decisions were made in assemblies this Monday. The impact is limited to specific plants.
→ Read the full digestLabor Minister Yolanda Díaz still has a queue of reforms pending as she campaigns to lead the International Labour Organization; the vote is in November. The list includes working time registration, dismissal reform, an intern statute, bereavement leave extension and a new minimum wage (SMI) increase. The working time registration law has stalled amid employer opposition and doubts from the Economy Ministry. The legislature expires no later than July 22 next year.
→ Read the full digestSome 51% of Ingreso Mínimo Vital (IMV) recipients combine the benefit with another form of aid, and 16% with two or more, according to AIReF. Eleonor Veiga, 62, combines IMV with a subsidy for over-52s and receives just over €700 a month. She says she previously survived on €400 a month for a year when her IMV was cancelled. The IMV, approved in May 2020, aimed to lift about 1 million people out of extreme poverty.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security confirmed that pensioners will not receive a new extra payment in September 2026. A viral video confuses it with the gender gap complement, in force since February 2021. In 2026 the complement is €36.90 per month per child, effective from January 1. Pensions are paid in 14 installments: 12 monthly payments plus two extras in June and November.
→ Read the full digestAutónomos (self-employed) who always contributed on the minimum base receive a lower pension. The minimum supplement, or complemento a mínimos, can raise it if conditions are met. In 2026, a retired autónomo with a dependent spouse can receive €1,256 per month in 14 payments.
→ Read the full digestThe share of young people aged 16-29 who both study and work has risen to 33% in 2026. Meanwhile, 'ninis'—those neither studying nor working—fell to 11.5% in 2025 from 19.4% in 2015. High housing costs and economic pressure force young people into relentless routines, and their salaries still do not let them leave home.
→ Read the full digestThe new flexible retirement regime came into force on August 28, three months after approval, allowing autónomos (self-employed) to combine a pension with work. It includes new supplements for those opting in. UPTA says the reform excludes autónomos who contributed to RETA in the three years before retiring, creating a 'quarantine' period. The association argues that former employees who become self-employed after retiring have easier access.
→ Read the full digestFrom September 1, Social Security stops sending paper for temporary and permanent disability, medical leave, and family benefits. Notifications will be available only through Sede Electrónica, with SMS or email alerts. Recipients have 10 calendar days to open documents using Cl@ve, digital certificate, or DNI electrónico. Paper remains only for urgent cases, in-person delivery, or those without phone or email.
→ Read the full digestThe new flexible retirement scheme starts Friday, letting retirees combine part-time work with their pension without waiting. Autónomos (self-employed) are now included. Part-time contracts can range from 33% to 80% of full time, up from the previous 25-75%. Those working 55-80% who start at least six months after retiring can get a 25% pension boost; otherwise the pension is reduced proportionally.
→ Read the full digestFrom September 1, Social Security will send electronic notifications for temporary and permanent disability procedures instead of postal mail. Recipients have 10 calendar days to open them before they are considered delivered. Access requires Cl@ve, a digital certificate or electronic DNI. The change affects people requesting or receiving disability benefits.
→ Read the full digestUber Eats is still using self-employed delivery riders more than seven months after committing to comply with Spain's Ley Rider. Union talks have been stalled since June, although more than 10,000 autónomos (self-employed workers) have already moved to fleet employment since January. The company has an agreement to settle over €110 million in Social Security debt and aims to finish the transition by year-end.
→ Read the full digestSpain has nearly 160,000 unfilled vacancies despite 2.5 million unemployed. Low salaries, an aging workforce, territorial gaps, and the housing crisis drive the mismatch. Some jobs pay €1,300 gross in cities with rents above €1,500; construction, transport, and hospitality report hiring trouble. Foreign residents may find openings, but low pay and high housing costs persist.
→ Read the full digestAn autónomo (self-employed worker) without employees and with rented commercial premises spends an average of €2,980 per month, or €35,760 per year, to run their business, according to UPTA. The estimate is based on 286 opening days per year. This shows why self-employment can be financially difficult in Spain.
→ Read the full digestAirbus Spain workers voted by a wide majority to begin an indefinite strike on August 25 after rejecting management's latest offer. Unions CGT, UGT and ÚTIL called the walkout; the Cádiz assembly will join on September 1. Management had offered an IPC-linked wage increase, restoration of telework conditions, and withdrawal of its Supreme Court appeal on sick-leave supplements.
→ Read the full digestThe Supreme Court has ruled that pensioners who were denied the old maternity supplement and had to sue are entitled to €1,800 compensation without reductions. A retired man in Madrid had initially been awarded only €600. The 2019 EU Court of Justice ruling established that excluding men from the supplement was discriminatory.
→ Read the full digestMore than half of construction laborers in Spain — 52.6% — are now of immigrant origin. Bricklayers are close behind at nearly 48%, up 16 percentage points in seven years. Since 2019, the sector has lost 22,711 Spanish workers and added 238,451 foreign workers. Foreign workers now make up one in three construction employees, which signals steady demand for labor in the sector.
→ Read the full digestThe MEI (Intergenerational Equity Mechanism) deduction will rise from 0.90% to 1% of the contribution base on January 1, 2027. Workers will pay 0.17% and employers 0.83%. For a €1,500 base, that means €2.55 from the worker and €12.45 from the employer. The mechanism began in 2023 and will climb to 1.2% by 2029, remaining in place until 2050.
→ Read the full digestHalf of all employment contracts signed in Spain in July — 50.4% — lasted three months or less. The average contract duration was 45.83 days, one of the lowest in 20 years. Nearly one in five contracts — 19.4%, or 308,861 contracts — lasted seven days or fewer. The penalty for contracts under 30 days was €33.62, up 3.1% from 2025.
→ Read the full digestNew flexible retirement rules take effect on Friday, letting pensioners combine work and a pension with more generous incentives. The reform was approved in June and published in the BOE. It expands options previously limited to salaried employees. Workers nearing retirement can now choose more gradual exits from the labor market.
→ Read the full digestUnder the new EU-UK-Spain treaty on Gibraltar, more than 10,000 cross-border workers, mostly Spanish, must return to Spain at least once a week. The treaty provisionally entered into force over a month ago, ending the physical border. EU citizens legally residing in Spain but working in Gibraltar, including the self-employed (autónomos), must comply. Worker certificates are valid for 12 months and are renewable, with online applications available.
→ Read the full digestWorkers with over 40 years of contributions are still penalized when taking early retirement, according to Social Security official Alfonso Muñoz. Early retirement is possible with at least 35 years of contributions but permanently reduces the pension. The association ASJUBI40 demands the elimination of reduction coefficients for long contribution histories.
→ Read the full digestAirbus Spain workers are considering an indefinite strike starting August 25 after conflicts over telework cuts and dissatisfaction with salaries. Assemblies on Monday will decide on a new indefinite strike from Tuesday, August 25. Airbus has proposed guaranteeing that salary increases keep pace with the IPC (inflation) and accelerating recovery of lost purchasing power. The unions UGT, CGT, and Útil are involved.
→ Read the full digestA study shows 23.4% of workers with low education start on temporary contracts, compared with 14% of graduates. Unemployment is 21.8% for those with primary education or less, 12% for secondary, and 6.2% for higher education. The data, based on EPA figures from 2005 to Q2 2026, links lower education to less stable jobs.
→ Read the full digestFrom September 1, 2026, Spain's Social Security will expand electronic notifications for certain procedures, mainly related to disability. Affected workers and beneficiaries must check the Sede Electrónica instead of waiting for letters. Paper notifications will remain in some cases. The change is regulated by Order ISM/541/2026.
→ Read the full digestIn the first half of 2026, 36 autónomos (self-employed workers) died in work accidents, up almost 25% from the same period in 2025. Total work accidents with leave among self-employed fell 2.4% to 13,358, but deaths rose by seven. Construction accounts for nearly half of the fatalities. UATAE warns of fewer accidents but more deaths.
→ Read the full digestThe MEI contribution will rise from 0.9% to 1% of the contribution base in 2027. Workers will pay 0.17% and employers 0.83%. A solidarity quota will also apply to the portion of salary above the maximum contribution base. The increase is part of the schedule to reinforce the pension system and will continue rising to 1.2% starting in 2030.
→ Read the full digestRoyal Decree 416/2026 takes effect on August 28 and expands flexible retirement, allowing people to combine a pension with part-time work or certain self-employment. Salaried workers must work between 33% and 80% of a full-time schedule. The percentage of pension received depends on workday length, with incentives linked to when the pensioner returns to work.
→ Read the full digestSpain lost 42,500 employer autónomos in three months due to fiscal pressure, despite a record total of about 3.5 million. Half a million autónomos are foreign. The collective's weight in the labor market is falling because salaried employment is growing faster. Tax pressure forces a significant number to close each month.
→ Read the full digestSpain logs 6.43 million overtime hours each week, and 2.54 million of those are neither paid nor compensated with rest, according to CCOO. That unpaid volume equals full-time employment for about 68,000 workers. Some 436,000 people perform unpaid overtime, averaging 5.8 extra hours per week. About 40% of overtime hours are unpaid and do not generate Social Security contributions, and companies have been required to register working hours since 2019.
→ Read the full digestSpain's ordinary retirement age will reach 67 in 2027 for workers with fewer than 38 years and six months of contributions, completing a 15-year transition. Workers with 38 years and six months or more can retire at 65. Voluntary early retirement will be possible at 65 below that threshold or 63 above it; involuntary early retirement will start at 63 or 61. Partial retirement with a relief contract will begin at 64 below the threshold or 62 above it. The contribution period for a 100% pension base rises to 37 years in 2027.
→ Read the full digestUnder Article 29 of the Workers' Statute, employees in Spain can ask for an advance on salary already earned before the official monthly payday. Employers must pay the proportional amount for fully completed working days. A worker paid on the 30th, for example, can request payment on the 15th for the first two weeks worked. Collective agreements may set limits on how often advances can be requested.
→ Read the full digestSpain registered a record 3,512,223 average foreign Social Security affiliates in July, up 66,046 from June and 420,875 year-on-year. Foreign affiliation grew 13.6% compared to 2.9% for the entire system, and foreign workers now represent 15.6% of all affiliates. Hospitality, agriculture, domestic work, and construction drove the increase: 33% of hospitality salaried workers are foreign, nearly 40% in agriculture, and 47% in domestic employment. Total affiliation reached 22.5 million, while registered unemployment rose by 19,500, a rise linked to the extraordinary regularization process.
→ Read the full digestCCOO and UGT are calling for an urgent social dialogue meeting to update the SMI, Spain's minimum wage, after July inflation reached 3.6%. The SMI rose 3.1% this year to €1,221 gross per month, but prices have outpaced that increase. Around 2.5 million workers receive the minimum wage.
→ Read the full digestFive years after Spain's Rider Law, the use of falsely self-employed (autónomo) couriers has largely ended, though unions warn of new precarity through subcontracting. The law, pushed by the Labor Ministry and negotiated with unions, forced platforms like Glovo and Uber Eats to hire riders as employees. Workers' groups say abuses have shifted to subcontracting chains.
→ Read the full digestA study found 66% of Spanish companies think extending paid parental leave to 19 weeks has little or no impact on productivity. The Chamber of Commerce survey, conducted before the extension, showed women now hold at least half of management posts in 36.2% of firms, up from 32.5% a year earlier. The findings could help normalize longer leave for parents navigating work and family.
→ Read the full digestWorkers in Spain who retire voluntarily before the legal age face permanent pension cuts, even with more than 41 years of contributions. For those with 41.5 to 44.5 years of contributions, the penalty ranges from 2.96% to 17% depending on how many months early they retire. Those planning to claim a Spanish pension should factor in these reductions, which also apply to maximum pensions via transitional coefficients.
→ Read the full digestWorkers receiving the over-52 subsidy may come out ahead by waiting until ordinary retirement age instead of taking early retirement, according to Social Security official Alfonso Muñoz Cuenca. During the subsidy period, contributions are based on 125% of the minimum base (€1,726 per month), while the subsidy itself pays €480 monthly. An early pensioner collects about €1,300 a month compared to €1,550 at ordinary retirement age—a gap that recoups the €24,000 shortfall from two extra years of subsidy in roughly eight years. Workers approaching retirement should run the numbers for their own situation.
→ Read the full digestEmployment among people over 55 reached 5 million in the second quarter, a historic high, according to the latest EPA survey from the INE. This age group now accounts for 22% of Spain's 22.7 million Social Security affiliates. The trend signals a labor market that increasingly retains and hires older workers, opening opportunities for those seeking jobs later in life.
→ Read the full digestSpain's extraordinary regularization process has admitted more than 70% of the 1.17 million applications, allowing immigrants to work and reside legally on a provisional basis. The surge in legal workers is already boosting tourism employment, helped by a rebound in autónomo (self-employed) registrations. Social Security data confirm the figures, providing a path to legal status for those already living in Spain.
→ Read the full digestSecond Vice President Yolanda Díaz has formally presented her bid to become director of the International Labour Organization (ILO), proposing a global charter of labour rights. She warns that the ILO faces an 'existential risk' due to a financial and programmatic crisis. The current director, Gilbert F. Houngbo, is running for re-election.
→ Read the full digestThe Labor Ministry has begun drafting a decree that will oblige companies with at least 50 employees to disclose their gender pay gaps. The text, which has been in public consultation since August 3, aims to comply with an EU directive and avoid fines. Workers will receive more information on pay criteria and salary differences between men and women. Unions CCOO and UGT say negotiations on the final rules are ongoing. The measure will increase transparency for all employees in Spain.
→ Read the full digestA Supreme Court ruling (941/2025) says habitual economic activity can require registration in the RETA even if income falls below the SMI. Lawyer Xavi Abat explains this covers recurring Wallapop sales, periodic commission work, and monetising a Twitch channel. Billing less than the monthly minimum wage does not, by itself, exempt anyone. The ruling expands the obligation to pay self-employed social security contributions to anyone with informal income sources.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security has surpassed 22.5 million affiliates and unemployment stands at around 2.3 million, its lowest level since 2007. Experts warn that the labor reform and mass regularization of immigrants have changed how these figures should be read, making historical comparisons less straightforward. Temporary employment has fallen: 40% of monthly contracts are now permanent, with a private-sector permanent rate of 12.3% while the public sector stays above 27%. The Bank of Spain and AIReF urge caution when interpreting classic stability indicators.
→ Read the full digestThe Social Security ministry is promoting a law to allow forgiveness of debts arising from improper minimum income benefit (IMV) payments received in 2024 and 2025. Over €500 million has been claimed back, and nearly 320,000 repayment files have been processed. The move comes after NGO ATD Cuarto Mundo triggered a Council of Europe investigation, alleging violations of the European Social Charter. Low-income IMV recipients could see relief from outstanding overpayment debts.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security affiliations averaged a record 22,508,065 in July, boosted by the extraordinary regularization of nearly 262,500 previously undocumented migrant workers. Unemployment rose by 19,500, which the government partly attributed to the same regularization process. The formalization grants these workers full Social Security and labor rights for the first time.
→ Read the full digestGround handling staff at Barcelona's El Prat airport began an indefinite strike on August 4, causing at least 16 cancellations and affecting around 20 flights. The CGT union says participation is 'very high' among the 1,175 workers, who denounce deteriorating risk prevention and unsustainable workloads. Groundforce serves airlines including Air Europa, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways.
→ Read the full digestThe Labor Ministry is expanding the Rider Law to require all companies using algorithms or artificial intelligence to guarantee the same labor rights as delivery platform workers. A bill transposing the EU platform work directive will be tabled before the December 2, 2026 deadline, with a public consultation open in early August. The move extends algorithmic accountability beyond food delivery to any sector where software manages schedules, tasks, or performance. Talks with unions and employers will follow the consultation.
→ Read the full digestLabor and tax adviser Sergio Sánchez outlines five legal tools for continuing to make Social Security contributions while unemployed. The most common is a voluntary special agreement, which lets a worker choose a contribution base and pay the corresponding monthly fee. Those over 52 may qualify for a subsidy that pays €480 a month while they contribute on a base of €1,653, provided they have at least 15 years of contributions and six years registered as unemployed. The options protect future pension rights for anyone who exhausts benefits and has no income.
→ Read the full digestPostponing retirement by just four months can boost a monthly pension by €200, according to a Social Security official. Workers are advised to exhaust contributory unemployment benefits before claiming a pension, as contributions continue. Those retiring in December can also take advantage of the following year's revaluation, while retiring exactly two years early may trigger the highest reduction coefficients. These rules offer a clear path for maximising retirement income.
→ Read the full digestSocial Security official Alfonso Muñoz says workers planning early retirement can significantly reduce penalties by waiting just four extra months. The penalty coefficient can drop by nearly half, translating into about €200 more per month for someone with a €2,000 base pension. Early retirement penalties range from 21% for retiring 24 months early with low contributions to just 2.81% for retiring one month early with high contributions. The advice could mean thousands more in lifetime pension income.
→ Read the full digestSpain has 1,668,800 underemployed workers who want more hours but can't get them, according to economist Marc Vidal. He argues that precariousness has shifted from temporary contracts to reduced hours for permanent employees, with nearly 78% of GDP growth stemming from more hours worked rather than from higher productivity. The trend points to falling productivity per worker even as hourly productivity rises. Workers in Spain should note that underemployment can affect earnings stability.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Social Security confirmed that permanent disability benefits automatically convert to retirement pensions once the beneficiary reaches ordinary retirement age, with no further medical reviews allowed. The payment amount stays the same, as in the case of a €1,200 monthly total permanent disability pension. Article 200.2 of the General Law of Social Security prohibits reviews after that point. The rule offers financial certainty to older recipients.
→ Read the full digestA nationwide Renfe strike by the SF-I union is disrupting travel on July 31, during the August holiday exodus. Minimum services are set at 73% for high-speed trains, 65% for medium-distance, and 75% for Cercanías during peak hours. The union is protesting the sale of Renfe Mercancías and the closure of maintenance bases.
→ Read the full digestThe employers' association CEOE has filed a full amendment against the government's draft law on pay transparency, arguing it adds unnecessary bureaucracy. The reform would require companies to disclose salary ranges and forbid rules that prevent workers from discussing pay. Minister Yolanda Díaz's ministry says the measure simply transposes an EU directive. If approved, the law could give job seekers better insight into what they should earn.
→ Read the full digestSpain's unemployment rate fell to 9.87% in the second quarter of 2026, dropping below 10% for the first time since 2008. The active population reached a record 25.27 million, and employment hit 22.4 million. Foreign-born workers accounted for 388,000 of the 510,000 new jobs created in the last year, with their activity rate at 70% — 13 points above the Spanish rate. The jobs surge highlights the key role of foreign residents in the labor market.
→ Read the full digestThe Government will approve a benefit that guarantees salary and Social Security payments for workers affected by wildfires, at no cost to companies. Workers also keep their unemployment benefit rights. The measure extends the current four-day paid climate leave. Employees in fire-affected areas will have income protection and job security during the emergency.
→ Read the full digestA draft law will make it illegal to fire workers who report corruption, rendering such dismissals null and void. The reform modifies five articles of the Workers' Statute and protects against discrimination and reprisals. It goes to the Council of Ministers before reaching Parliament in September. Employees in Spain will gain stronger legal safeguards if they blow the whistle on workplace misconduct.
→ Read the full digestSpain’s Social Security confirmed that up to 12 months of compulsory military service or substitute social service can be counted towards the minimum contribution period for early retirement. The measure does not increase the pension amount or apply to ordinary retirement. Those who completed their 'mili' in Spain could now access retirement sooner than expected.
→ Read the full digestA new law allows more than 100,000 professionals—such as lawyers and architects—to transfer contributions from alternative mutual schemes to the Social Security system, improving future pensions. The reform excludes 47,000 already retired mutualists and applies to those who started before 2013 and were contributing by the end of 2022. Further regulation on the exact contribution exchange mechanism is pending. Self-employed professionals in these fields stand to benefit from higher retirement income.
→ Read the full digestMore than 822,000 immigrants now hold preliminary work and residence permits after the government processed 70% of 1.17 million applications in the extraordinary regularization. Authorities confirmed that provisional permits remain valid until a final decision is issued, not just for three months, after misinterpretations led to job losses and dismissals. By the end of June, 160,000 had already joined the social security system. The measure provides legal certainty to hundreds of thousands of applicants awaiting their final status.
→ Read the full digestA new report reveals that replacing a self-employed worker during the first month of leave costs €2,339.90, while the average net monthly income is just €2,298. This gap puts 3.4 million autónomos at risk of business failure if they take family or personal leave. For Spain's self-employed, many of whom are foreign nationals, achieving work-life balance remains a major financial challenge.
→ Read the full digestShort-term sick leave of up to three days rose 154% between 2017 and 2024, reaching 3.45 million cases last year. These absences now account for 40.2% of all sick leave and are a growing concern for employers. KPMG is calling for a national pact to address the issue. The trend could lead to policy changes affecting all workers.
→ Read the full digestAntonio Garamendi, president of Spain's business confederation CEOE, identifies workplace absenteeism as the biggest issue facing companies, ahead of taxes and labor shortages. He is running for a third term, with elections set for October 1. The stance may influence future labor policy debates.
→ Read the full digestBanco Santander and unions agreed on a voluntary early retirement plan for workers aged 55 and older. Eligible employees can receive up to 95% of their pension. About 5,000 workers currently qualify, and the bank expects 2,500 to 3,000 departures over the next 2.5 years. The deal could set a precedent in Spain's banking sector.
→ Read the full digestLidl and Spanish unions sealed a labour deal that will lift salaries by a cumulative 15% through 2030, with a 4% hike in 2026 and 3% annually from 2027 to 2029. The supermarket chain also pledged to invest over €280 million in the next four years and improve working conditions and hours. The agreement may set a benchmark for pay negotiations across the retail sector.
→ Read the full digestA new study shows 98% of small and medium businesses in Catalonia consider their area a 'stressed' market, and 63% struggle to fill vacancies. More than half blame travel costs or commuting time, while 33% point to the lack of affordable housing or high cost of living near workplaces. The report, commissioned by employers' group Pimec, highlights how the housing crisis is hitting the labour market.
→ Read the full digestStarting January 1, 2027, workers born between 1961 and 1965 must have at least 38 years and 6 months of contributions to retire at 65 with a full pension. The requirement has been raised from 38 years and 3 months under the previous rule. Those with shorter contribution histories will need to wait until age 67 to receive full benefits. The change marks the final phase of Spain's pension reform.
→ Read the full digestForeign Social Security affiliates hit 3.45 million in June, growing 11.3% year-on-year—four times the overall rate. Hospitality (31.5%), agriculture (28.9%), and construction (25.9%) depend heavily on immigrant labor. Foreign workers also sign more permanent contracts than Spaniards, reflecting strong labor demand.
→ Read the full digestThe real cost of labor absenteeism ranges from €60 billion to €129 billion, far above the official €30 billion. The absenteeism rate hit a record 7.6% in 2025, with 1.6 million people absent daily, 80% on medical leave. Young workers aged 16-34 take more sick leave than older employees, driven by mental health, says economist Gonzalo Bernardos. Rising costs may lead to tighter sick leave rules for all workers.
→ Read the full digestThe Superior Court of Justice of Murcia ruled the firing discriminatory, rejecting the company's unproven claim of a 30% performance drop. The worker receives reinstatement with back pay and €6,000 in moral damages. The decision, based on Law 15/2022, strengthens protection against dismissal during mental health leave for all employees.
→ Read the full digestGlovo's founder Oscar Pierre acknowledged in court that he tried to circumvent Spain's Rider Law on false self-employment but asked for the criminal case to be dismissed. The union CGT is pushing for a trial for alleged crimes against workers' rights. The judge will decide whether to proceed.
→ Read the full digestA 24-hour strike by the Railway Union on July 15 will disrupt Renfe services. Minimum services are set at 73% for high-speed trains and 66% for medium-distance lines. Up to 94 of 343 AVE trains and 234 of 650 medium-distance trains could be cancelled. A previous strike on June 29 saw only 1.83% participation, but cancellations are still possible. Travelers should check schedules and plan ahead.
→ Read the full digestAutónomos in Spain take roughly four times less sick leave than employees, largely because of lower benefits and financial disincentives. The gap highlights unequal labor protections that leave self-employed workers with less economic security when ill. Two case examples illustrate the stark difference in rights and compensation.
→ Read the full digestSpain’s outdoor workers report that heatwaves are becoming more intense, starting earlier in June and turning unbearable. A 64-year-old temporary worker recently died from heat-related causes in Seròs, Lleida. The trend raises alarm for those in construction, agriculture, and other outdoor sectors.
→ Read the full digestSelf-employed professionals, such as architects, lawyers, and doctors, who belong to mutual societies may soon transfer their contributions to Social Security to secure a minimum pension. The government estimates the measure will cost €5,204 million and initially benefit around 47,000 mutualistas, although some sources say hundreds of thousands could be eligible. Congress is close to approving the law, addressing long-standing complaints about extremely low pensions for these autónomos (self-employed). For many, the reform would guarantee a basic retirement income.
→ Read the full digestDespite record social security affiliation, only one fifth of new jobs in Spain are filled by people who were previously unemployed, the OECD has warned. The organization called unemployment the country’s main economic challenge, with the reduction in joblessness slowing. Job seekers may face stiffer competition or a skills mismatch.
→ Read the full digestVolkswagen’s 23,000 employees in Spain will not be affected by the company’s radical restructuring in Germany, which could cut up to 100,000 jobs. Spanish plants, including Seat and Landaben, are key to VW’s electric vehicle offensive and are producing new electric models. The move offers job stability and could create opportunities for workers from abroad in the automotive sector.
→ Read the full digestAirbus workers in Spain have been on strike since July 1 over salary cuts and reduced telework, and the company now says it is open to dialogue. In a statement, Airbus acknowledged that the strike is affecting operations and clients, adding that it 'takes note' of worker concerns. The strike is scheduled to last until July 31, with limited direct impact on most people.
→ Read the full digestA strike by the Sindicato Ferroviario on July 15 will force the cancellation of 328 medium and long-distance trains, including 94 high-speed services. Minimum services are set at 73% for high-speed trains and 66% for medium distance. The union is protesting unfulfilled agreements and what it calls the ‘abandonment’ of freight services. Travelers should verify their train before departing.
→ Read the full digestThe Senate passed a law allowing mutualistas (members of self-employed mutual societies) to enter the Social Security system and qualify for state pensions. The ‘pasarela al RETA’ excludes current pensioners except in widowhood cases, but opens access to those with over 15 years of contributions. The text returns to Congress for final approval after Senate amendments.
→ Read the full digestThe Ministry of Labor suspended the registration of Spain’s first national collective agreement for large fashion retailers, which covers about 120,000 workers at Inditex, Mango, Primark, and H&M. The ministry found several provisions non-compliant with labor law. Signed in early June by the ARTE employer group and unions CC.OO. and Fetico, the deal was opposed by UGT. The negotiating committee must amend the text.
→ Read the full digestFailure rates in Spain’s teacher competitive exams (oposiciones) reached 83% in Castile and León, where 9,771 of 11,776 aspirants failed the first round. In Murcia, 63% of primary teacher candidates failed; in Asturias, 61%; and in Castile-La Mancha, 59%. Observers noted high numbers of spelling errors among young candidates, and in some specialties, fewer passed than positions available.
→ Read the full digestEpisodes of temporary sick leave jumped 84% between 2017 and 2024, from 4.7 million to 8.6 million cases, according to a study by AIReF. Incidence per 1,000 workers rose 60%, and average leave duration increased 15% to 45.9 days. Absences lasting more than a year tripled, while short leaves under three days climbed 141%. The total cost is estimated at €33 billion, fueling debate over potential labor policy reforms.
→ Read the full digestWage growth remains the ‘weak point’ of the Spanish economy, according to the OECD, with no improvement in purchasing power expected in 2026 or 2027. Low productivity and persistent inflation are holding back real income gains. Unemployment stands at 10.3%, more than double the OECD average. The report warns that living standards for workers will likely stagnate for the next two years.
→ Read the full digestThe PP reversed course in the Senate and reintroduced an exclusion that bars existing pensioners from transferring mutual fund rights to the Social Security system. The measure affects professionals like lawyers and architects, many of whom receive pensions as low as €300-400 per month. The law had previously passed the lower house without this restriction, and the Senate vote keeps the pathway closed for those already retired.
→ Read the full digestThe High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) ruled that a woman who married in Morocco in 1965 is entitled to a widow's pension, even though the marriage was never registered in Spain. The National Social Security Institute (INSS) had denied the payment, arguing the lack of registration, but the court found that a valid foreign marriage, if uncontested, must be recognized for pension purposes. The ruling sets a pension base of 799 euros per month and reinforces the principle that a lack of Spanish paperwork cannot block survivors' benefits for legally celebrated marriages abroad.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Supreme Court annulled a company agreement that forced part-time employees of Ryanair and two handling companies to work complementary hours on demand. The court ruled that such extra hours require an express, individual, and voluntary pact, and that giving less than three days' notice is illegal. The annulled clause allowed up to 60% of a normal workday to be added, sometimes with only verbal instruction. The ruling upholds a prior decision by the Audiencia Nacional and offers stronger legal protection to part-time workers.
→ Read the full digestThe government's Integration Plan 2026-2030 projects that 41.9% of immigrants will remain at risk of poverty by the end of the decade, a modest 1.7 percentage-point drop from 2024. The plan sets ten targets in employment, education, and housing. The recent extraordinary regularization process received 1.17 million applications—double the expected number.
→ Read the full digestSelf-employed workers in Spain can claim up to 1,825 days (five years) of pension credit for periods of parental leave without paying additional contributions. Mothers receive 112 days per child after birth if they stopped working; parents can get up to 270 days per child for interruptions between nine months before birth and six years after. The credits boost the pension amount but do not count toward the 15-year minimum contribution period.
→ Read the full digestRegularized immigrants will fill roughly one-third of a record 165,584 summer contracts in Spain's tourism sector. The hiring drive aims to ease chronic labor shortages, especially in hospitality. It underscores how regularization has opened doors for foreign workers in a tight job market.
→ Read the full digestFrom August 28, 2026, self-employed workers (autónomos) can access flexible retirement, receiving 25% of their pension while continuing to work with no income limit. Unlike salaried employees, they are excluded from bonuses and cannot claim a proportional pension. The reform eases the transition into retirement but offers limited financial relief for the self-employed.
→ Read the full digestAirbus employees across Spanish plants started a month-long strike this July over pay and a reduction in telework from two days to one per week starting in September. The SIPA union has rejected salary offers of 3% for 2026 and 2% for 2027, demanding better terms despite record profits. The industrial action could disrupt production and directly affect foreign nationals employed by the aerospace company.
→ Read the full digestSpain added 128,533 new Social Security affiliates in June, bringing the total to a record 22.47 million. Foreign workers accounted for 86,630 of those new jobs — two-thirds of the total — largely due to the regularization process. Unemployment fell to 2.29 million, its lowest since 2008, reflecting a rapidly tightening labor market.
→ Read the full digestThe Secretary of State for Employment announced the new working time registration reform is being finalized and could win approval from the Council of Ministers before the summer holidays. The reform, which received an unfavorable opinion from the Council of State in March, seeks to prevent manipulation of working hours and enable remote labor inspections. Once approved, it will impose stricter controls on work hours for all employees in Spain.
→ Read the full digestThe Ministry of Labour led by Yolanda Díaz has put forward a draft royal decree requiring companies to disclose salaries broken down by gender and category and to justify promotions. The measure, which does not need parliamentary approval, aims to eliminate gender pay gaps despite opposition from unions and employers. The decree comes at a time when Congress is frozen, allowing the government to legislate unilaterally. Female foreign workers in Spain would directly benefit from greater transparency and enforcement.
→ Read the full digestWorkers in Spain can claim up to four days of paid climate leave each time a heatwave or other extreme weather strikes, with no limit on how often. Article 37.3.g of the Workers' Statute guarantees pay during absences caused by adverse climate conditions. If the risk persists, the leave can be extended. In some cases, employers may offer remote work as an alternative. The rule gives workers in Spain a clear right to stay home without losing income when temperatures become dangerous.
→ Read the full digestSpain registered a record 519,137 foreign autónomos (self-employed workers) in May 2026, a 7.25% increase from a year earlier and a 119% jump since 2008. The total number of self-employed in the country is 3.46 million. The surge reflects the growing role of foreign entrepreneurs and is expected to accelerate with the ongoing regularization process.
→ Read the full digestThe Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers has ruled for a second time that Spain's compensation caps for unfair dismissal violate the European Social Charter. The ruling states that current limits fail to adequately compensate victims or deter employers, calling it a human rights violation. Spain could face pressure to raise severance pay, strengthening job security for all workers.
→ Read the full digestLabour lawyer Andrés Millán warns that many companies list a more recent seniority date on payslips to reduce salary supplements and severance pay. An incorrect date can significantly lower compensation in cases of unfair dismissal. Workers should verify that their seniority date reflects their actual start date to avoid financial loss.
→ Read the full digestOpenAI will open its first Madrid office in the second half of 2026, with four job openings for experienced engineers. One sales role requires over 10 years of experience and €2 million in sales. The hybrid model requires three days in the office. The move creates high-skilled tech opportunities in Spain's capital.
→ Read the full digestA strike called by the Sindicato Ferroviario has forced Renfe to cancel 98 AVE and long-distance services (73% of scheduled services operating) and 222 medium-distance trains (65% running). Commuter services (Cercanías) will run at 75% during peak hours and 50% at other times. A second strike day is planned for July 15. Passengers should confirm their travel before heading to stations.
→ Read the full digestSpain’s Labor Inspection has identified 31,500 temporary and fixed-discontinuous contracts that may be fraudulent, giving companies one month to regularize them or face sanctions. The crackdown is part of the first Plan de Choque against irregular hiring. Workers on these contracts could be reclassified as permanent employees, which would improve job stability for many, including foreign workers.
→ Read the full digestDriving school associations are protesting long waiting lists for driving tests and have called for the resignation of the DGT’s director, accusing the agency of mismanaging examiner resources. The DGT’s Plan PRO, which introduced Saturday exams, saw low turnout in some regions, while 1,400 driving schools have closed. Persistent delays can leave new residents struggling to obtain licenses needed for work and daily mobility.
→ Read the full digestStellantis will implement an ERE laying off 175 workers at its Villaverde plant in Madrid, with an additional ERTE for 89 workers from August to year-end. The company cites lower production forecasts. It is negotiating to transfer the plant to Chinese EV maker Leapmotor. The job cuts could affect those employed in the automotive sector.
→ Read the full digestCCOO is demanding a 7% wage increase for 2027 and 4% minimum annual raises from 2028 for retail workers, whose average gross salary of 20,400 euros is 26% below the national average. Sector sales grew 33% from 2019 to 2024, exceeding 127 billion euros, while staff pay accounts for just 9% of business costs versus a 12% national norm. One in four retail workers has a part-time contract, double the national rate.
→ Read the full digestBanco Santander is negotiating early retirement programs that could affect 2,000 to 3,000 workers, while Sabadell and Unicaja run similar processes. The moves come as Santander has been trimming its branch network and retiring staff since 2025. The restructuring may impact many bank employees.
→ Read the full digestThe Education Ministry has proposed capping groups at 4 children under 1 year, 6 children aged 1-2, and 8 children aged 2-3, for early childhood education from 2027/2028. The plan also reduces maximum class sizes in later stages, from 25 to 20 in Infantil and from 35 to 30 in Bachillerato. Lower ratios aim to improve care quality, benefiting families with young children.
→ Read the full digestSpanish companies pay for only the first 12 days of employee sick leave, the lowest in the EU, compared to 30 days in Belgium, six weeks in Germany, and up to two years in the Netherlands. The CEOE business association wants Social Security to fully cover the first 15 days. Total sick leave costs for companies reach €17 billion. The stance could influence future reform of sick pay for all workers.
→ Read the full digestJosé Luis Escrivá proposed reducing the social contributions paid on behalf of unemployed people, arguing that the current system disincentivizes returning to work. Spain’s contributions for the unemployed are double those of other large European economies. Any change could affect job-seeking conditions for unemployed residents.
→ Read the full digestThe Railway Union announced 24-hour strikes on Renfe for June 29 and July 15, coinciding with the start of the summer holiday season. The union accuses Renfe of breaching November 2023 agreements on outsourcing locomotive maintenance and reducing workloads. Travelers planning train travel on those dates should expect delays and cancellations.
→ Read the full digestSmall and medium-sized bus operators in Castilla-La Mancha, Basque Country, and Andalusia are not renewing their school transport contracts due to low funding. In Jaén province, 98% of routes for the 2026–2027 school year remain without bids. The contracts in Castilla-La Mancha reference prices from 2014–2017. The risk may spread to Madrid, Catalonia, and the Valencian Community, potentially disrupting school transport for thousands of families.
→ Read the full digestCongress approved a law allowing mutualists – self-employed professionals such as lawyers and engineers – with 38 years of contributions to receive a maximum monthly pension of €1,200, up from an average of €450. The law also opens a pathway to switch to the RETA system. Both active and retired mutualists can benefit.
→ Read the full digestStarting in September, Spain's Social Security will notify workers about temporary and permanent disability via SMS or email with a link to the digital portal. Recipients will need Cl@ve, DNIe, or a digital certificate to access the full notification. In-person assistance will remain available at CAISS offices for those with limited digital skills. Workers on sick leave should prepare for the new digital system.
→ Read the full digestSpain's absenteeism rate reached 7.68% in 2025, a record high, with 1.6 to 1.7 million workers absent daily. The total cost amounts to €33 billion, with €17 billion borne by companies and €16 billion by Social Security. The CEOE has proposed that Social Security assume all sick leave costs, freeing companies from paying. Any policy changes could affect working conditions for employees and employers.
→ Read the full digestInditex has agreed with unions on a 12.5% salary increase until 2028 for nearly 30,000 store employees in Spain. The deal includes 4% annual raises in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Sunday pay rises to €11.25 per hour and holiday pay to €13.50 by 2028. Birth aid increases from €450 to €506.
→ Read the full digestThe Council of Europe has reiterated that Spain's unfair dismissal compensation of 33 days per year violates the European Social Charter. It calls for reforms to make compensation cover actual damages and be dissuasive. The Spanish government is urged to amend the legislation, which could strengthen job security for all workers.
→ Read the full digestMagnific, formerly Freepik, has started an ERE layoff process affecting 30% of its Spanish workforce, around 100 employees. The company, with 350 staff in Spain and €196 million annual recurring revenue, is restructuring to focus on AI, not due to financial issues.
→ Read the full digestStarting in September 2026, all Social Security notifications for temporary disability will be sent electronically via SMS or email. Workers will need to use digital identification systems like Cl@ve to access the notifications. In-person assistance at CAISS offices remains available for those with limited digital skills.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Social Security Ministry has initiated a reform to expand the CUME benefit for parents caring for children with cancer or serious illness. The changes include longer initial leave and extensions, and expand the list of covered conditions. The public consultation runs until June 25, 2026.
→ Read the full digestThe first state-level collective agreement for large fashion chains unifies working conditions for over 120,000 employees across Spain. Signed on June 2, the pact covers brands like Zara, H&M, and Mango, ending the previous fragmentation of terms by province. The agreement applies to retail chains with more than 400 employees and a presence in at least three autonomous communities. This standardization establishes uniform nationwide rights for wages and working hours in the sector.
→ Read the full digestCompanies in Spain face significant legal hurdles when attempting to fire employees for alleged low performance. Labor lawyer Juanma Lorente notes that disciplinary dismissals based on poor productivity are difficult to prove in court and often result in an unfair dismissal ruling. When a judge declares the firing unfair, the employee becomes entitled to substantial financial compensation, especially those with long tenure. Workers should consult a lawyer rather than automatically accepting such termination notices.
→ Read the full digestThe owner of the Bilbao restaurant La Gilda del Norte appealed his criminal conviction for violating the labor rights of foreign workers. He was convicted in April by the Audiencia Provincial de Bizkaia, but his lawyer argues for acquittal based on the principle of double jeopardy. The defense claims that because the owner already accepted administrative sanctions and paid fines from the Labor Inspectorate, a criminal conviction is precluded. The case highlights the ongoing legal enforcement of workplace protections for vulnerable employees.
→ Read the full digestLabor law professor Adrián Todolí argues that excessive workloads violate fundamental rights, even before reaching clinical burnout. Half of Spanish workers currently experience time pressure or task overload, contributing to high rates of work-related stress and depression. Globally, work-related risks cause 840,000 deaths annually, underscoring the severe physical and mental toll of poor working conditions.
→ Read the full digestMore than 20 educational organizations in Madrid are calling for an indefinite teacher strike starting next school year. The action adds to ongoing protests across Spain demanding better working conditions and resources. Meanwhile, teachers in Catalonia and Valencia have already rejected recent regional agreements, signaling a turbulent autumn for classrooms.
→ Read the full digestThe Spanish Congress approved a law improving pensions for up to 150,000 professionals in alternative mutual societies (such as lawyers, architects, and doctors) who switch to the RETA system. However, a proposed amendment to remove the penalty for those who retired early after contributing over 40 years was rejected due to a €5.2 billion budget impact.
→ Read the full digestLabour lawyer Víctor Salazar explains that a private transactional agreement negotiated between the worker and employer can allow leaving the company without it being a voluntary resignation, preserving the right to unemployment benefits. Both parties must compromise on terms.
→ Read the full digestCCOO demands that no state employee earn less than €1,500 net per month, as 15% of the workforce earns near the SMI (minimum wage) of €1,221 in 14 payments. The union says rising costs are causing job offer rejections in expensive cities.
→ Read the full digestUGT union has called off the planned indefinite strike for truck drivers after the Social Security secretary agreed to review early retirement requests for the sector. The strike was initially set for June 22.
→ Read the full digestThree people who started working at age 14 and contributed for over 40 years now receive pensions reduced by 24-26% because they were forced into early retirement. They demand the elimination of penalty coefficients for those with 40 or more years of contributions.
→ Read the full digestJuanma Lorente describes how some Spanish employers gradually make the work environment hostile—increasing pressure and assigning unpleasant tasks—so that employees eventually quit voluntarily. This 'silent dismissal' tactic leaves workers without severance pay or unemployment benefits.
→ Read the full digestThe government failed to transpose the EU directive on salary transparency by the June 7 deadline, leaving companies in legal uncertainty. The Labour Ministry hasn't sent a formal proposal to social partners, risking heavy fines from Brussels.
→ Read the full digestThe lump-sum payment for postponing retirement has quintupled since its creation, now exceeding €20,000. Nearly 30,000 workers chose this option, even though a 4% lifelong pension increase might be more profitable in the long run.
→ Read the full digestThe BOE confirmed that all communications about temporary disability will now be sent via SMS or email, requiring access via digital ID. In-person attention remains in CAISS centres for those without digital skills.
→ Read the full digestLawyer Víctor Arpa clarifies that the Equipo de Valoración de Incapacidades (EVI) only evaluates and proposes; the final decision on permanent disability rests with the INSS director. Many applicants misunderstand the process.
→ Read the full digestSpain's new Pay Transparency Law mandates companies to publish salary information in job postings, allow employees to access pay-level data, and correct unjustified wage differences exceeding 5%. Firms must also produce detailed reports on the gender pay gap and implement objective job evaluation systems. The regulation aims to boost internal equity and trust within organizations.
→ Read the full digestThe UGT union has delayed its planned indefinite strike for truck and bus drivers, originally set for June 8, to June 22, citing the need for mobility during the Pope's visit to Spain. The strike demands early retirement for drivers with no pension penalties.
→ Read the full digestSpain reached a historic 22.3 million Social Security affiliates in May, adding 232,000 jobs — the second-best May ever — with foreign workers accounting for half of the growth. In parallel, the government's mass regularization of immigrants has already brought 20,000 previously undeclared jobs (empleos en 'b') into the formal economy, according to Funcas, ahead of the June 30 application deadline.
→ Read the full digestThe Council of Ministers approved the new Estatuto Marco (framework statute) for health professionals, updating the 2003 law, despite ongoing intermittent strikes by doctors since February. Nurses' unions support the reform, but medical associations threaten to escalate with a general strike after summer.
→ Read the full digestThe Ministry of Labour advised teleworking from June 6–12 in areas affected by Pope Leo XIV's visit to Madrid, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife. The recommendation aims to reduce unnecessary travel and ensure worker safety during the expected mobility disruptions.
→ Read the full digestThe indefinite teachers strike in the Valencian Community entered its fourth week, with the regional president accusing unions of encouraging 'vandalistic acts'. The conflict comes just as students prepare for the PAU (Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad, university entrance exams), which the Education Department has guaranteed will take place.
→ Read the full digestA new law allows self-employed workers (autónomos) to return to work after retirement without losing their pension, provided they haven't been registered as autónomos for three years prior. The one-year waiting period has also been removed, making flexible retirement more accessible.
→ Read the full digestThe Labour Ministry and unions CCOO and UGT will jointly draft a reform to align dismissal rules with European Social Charter rulings, introducing higher compensation for unfair firings and reinstatement rights. The CEOE employers' federation strongly opposes the plan.
→ Read the full digestCSIF, the largest public sector union, announced protests over stalled negotiations on the 5th Collective Agreement and partial retirement access. The union accuses the government's political weakness of blocking progress on pay, career development, and conditions for state employees.
→ Read the full digestThe government has approved changes to flexible retirement, allowing self-employed workers (autónomos) to combine a pension with part-time work for the first time. The allowed work range shifts from 25%-75% to 33%-80% of a full-time job, and the one-year waiting period is eliminated.
→ Read the full digestThe Council of Ministers approved a decree reforming 'jubilación flexible' (flexible retirement), now allowing autónomos (self-employed workers) to return to part-time work while drawing a pension, a perk previously limited to salaried employees. The reform also increases the percentage of pension that can be combined with salary and lets forced retirees recalculate future benefits. The changes take effect three months after BOE publication.
→ Read the full digestThe reform allowing some professionals to switch from private mutualities to the RETA (Régimen Especial de Trabajadores Autónomos, self-employed regime) has been postponed again. ATA warns it must remain financially neutral to avoid harming current autónomos.
→ Read the full digestThe hospitality industry's new labor agreement (ALEH) requires bars and restaurants to implement heat mitigation measures during extreme temperatures over 40°C or remove outdoor service. Fines for non-compliance can reach €50,000, effective for summer 2026.
→ Read the full digestWorkers in textile and footwear stores held strikes and protests against a new collective agreement signed by employer association ARTE, which includes major brands. Unions claim it worsens working conditions and demand talks on May 27-28.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Audiencia Nacional has ruled that contact center employees must receive a compensatory day off when a public holiday falls on a Saturday, a day they already have off. Labor experts say this decision, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could be extended to all sectors, giving millions of Monday-to-Friday workers a new right to claim compensation for lost holidays.
→ Read the full digestThe Audiencia Nacional (High Court) ruled that employers must provide an additional day off for public holidays that fall on Saturday when workers already have that day off, ensuring all 14 statutory holidays are enjoyed. The decision, following union complaints, initially applies to contact centers and car rental sectors.
→ Read the full digestUGT has called a nationwide strike for Saturday 23 May in the textile and footwear sector to protest a pre-agreement signed by employers' association ARTE (including Inditex, Mango, and Primark) with CCOO and Fetico, claiming it eliminates rights and creates territorial inequality.
→ Read the full digestIn a case brought by a Slovak miner who worked in the Czech Republic, the European Court of Justice has ruled that time spent in arduous jobs (trabajos penosos) in other EU member states must be recognized for early retirement purposes in Spain.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Audiencia Nacional ruled that if a public holiday coincides with a worker's weekly rest day on Saturday, the worker is entitled to an additional day off. The decision directly affects the contact center sector, but unions say it sets a precedent for all industries.
→ Read the full digestThe Spanish Cancer Association AECC has launched the first protocol to guide employers on supporting employees from diagnosis to return to work. Testimonials highlight the hidden challenges of returning: 'they think you're the same, but you're not.'
→ Read the full digestStarting June 7, 2026, all Spanish companies must disclose salary ranges in job postings and before interviews under a new EU directive. The measure aims to eliminate the common practice of hiding pay information to reduce inequality and wasted time in hiring.
→ Read the full digestA new double-calculation method for retirement pensions begins in 2026, with the legal retirement age reaching 66 years and 10 months. The reform, explained by Social Security official Alfonso Muñoz, will gradually base pensions on full-career earnings, with exceptions for those with long contribution histories.
→ Read the full digestSpain's six largest banks reduced their workforce by 8,193 employees and closed 1,247 offices in the last year, as they embrace artificial intelligence. Santander, which now has 185,243 staff versus 196,503 a year ago, signed an OpenAI deal to become an 'AI-native bank.'
→ Read the full digestUGT has called an indefinite general strike for truck and bus drivers starting June 8 unless the Social Security Ministry provides clear information on early retirement coefficients. The union says it has waited 20 years for this measure and accuses the government of administrative silence.
→ Read the full digestThe delivery platform will cut 436 jobs, down from the 750 originally proposed, after negotiations with unions. Nine cities were saved from complete service closure, and riders may be relocated to nearby cities with compensation.
→ Read the full digestUGT has called a national strike for June to demand the government fulfill a year-old commitment to allow professional drivers early retirement. The strike could disrupt goods supply and passenger travel if unresolved.
→ Read the full digestSpain's Supreme Court ruled that public sector workers in abusive temporary positions cannot be automatically granted permanent contracts unless they have passed a competitive *oposición* (exam). The court argued that doing otherwise would violate constitutional principles of equality, merit, and public service access.
→ Read the full digestSpain's General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) has archived complaints against Judge Álvaro Lobato, who criticized Labor Inspectorate officials in a ruling on delivery platform Glovo. In his July 2025 ruling, he described the inspectors' testimonies as echoing 'the nostalgic unionized Spain of yesterday' with 'biological psychological anchors', sparking allegations of antisindical bias.
→ Read the full digestNissan has announced an ERE (layoff plan) affecting 211 workers in Catalonia, 37% of its local workforce. In a contrasting outlook, economist Gonzalo Bernardos predicts Spain will create over 500,000 new jobs this year, despite recent unemployment rising above 10%.
→ Read the full digestCepyme president Ángela de Miguel says the strict digital work‑hour registry is a policy to destroy micro-enterprises, especially in rural areas without internet. The government plans to implement it by royal decree, bypassing parliament.
→ Read the full digestEconomist Marc Vidal has criticized employment data, revealing 870,000 people registered as fijos discontinuos (permanent discontinuous workers) who are inactive—neither working nor receiving pay—yet not counted as unemployed. He notes the seasonally adjusted series shows only 41,753 new affiliates, far below the 223,000 celebrated by the government, and that only 16.8% of new contracts were full-time indefinite.
→ Read the full digest