Labour Hours Cut to Impact 10.3 Million Workers

In what’s being dubbed a paradigm shift for Spanish employment, an estimated 10.3 million workers will face a substantial reduction in their weekly working hours by 2025, according to insights from the CCOO union.

The Spanish government’s staggered work-hour reduction initiative ushers in a preliminary phase in 2024, shortening the average work-week to 38.5 hours, a move expected to leave the current work schedules largely unaltered.

However, the pivotal second phase promises to upend the status quo, as the working week draws down to 37.5 hours.

CCOO’s recent study forecasts that 94% of workers currently governed by collective bargaining agreements would be affected.

The average work-hours recorded in collective agreements for 2023 stands at 1,748.5 hours annually, but following the government’s plan, this will decrease to 1,712.5 hours in 2025.

Industries such as agriculture, commerce, and hospitality are predicted to be the most impacted sectors.

The discussion tails a notable trend in wage increases outpacing inflation for those under collective bargaining in 2023. Salary increments pegged in these agreements averaged a 4.5% rise, compared to a 3.1% inflation rate by year-end.

With 1,351 agreements sealed last year, covering 3.7 million workers, and a larger haul of 3,512 agreements impacting almost 11 million workers, the wage dynamics seem set for a shakeup.

The inclusion of a salary guarantee clause in these agreements remains a sticking point, with only a minority featuring such provisions.