The plan to reduce the working day from 40 to 38.5 hours per week without any salary cuts is estimated to benefit around 570,000 private sector employees in the Canary Islands. Nationwide, about 12 million workers are expected to benefit from the reduction in working hours, as per the Ministry’s data, which is subject to changes in Social Security registrations.
The announcement of the measure has caused concern in business sectors following the warning from the Secretary of State for Labor, Joaquín Pérez Rey, regarding the implementation of salary increase with or without the agreement of employers. Amid this tension, a social dialogue table commenced with the aim of reaching a consensus between unions and employers on the reduction to 37.5 hours projected for 2025.
The Government’s intention has also received criticism from businessmen in the Canary Islands. Pedro Alfonso, president of CEOE Tenerife, described the communication of the proposal as “unreasonable” and an example of the breakdown in dialogue between unions, employers, and the State. This sentiment was echoed by the vice president of the Canarian Confederation of Businessmen (CCE), José Cristóbal García, who criticized the Minister of Labor for making “constant announcements” seemingly aimed at an ongoing electoral campaign.
Expressing concerns, Alfonso stated that reducing the working day would impact the economy and productivity, ultimately affecting the job retention capacity of companies. Additionally, he fears that the reduction in working hours, combined with logistics challenges in the Red Sea, could lead to a second wave of inflation. Public representatives and economists argue that reducing the working day could enhance productivity due to the positive impact on workers’ personal lives. However, these assertions are met with skepticism by employers in the Canary Islands.
Montse Cosano, from CCOO, Highlights Lack of Update in Working Day
Health benefits to workers are anticipated with the reduction in working hours, particularly for physically demanding roles such as housekeepers and construction workers, who could avoid common occupational illnesses. Montse Cosano, Secretary of Union Action of CCOO in the Canary Islands, emphasized the social progress represented by the measure, citing the excessive working hours in the region compared to the national average.
12
Millions of Employees
The Government of Spain and CCOO estimate that about 12 million Spanish employees in private companies will benefit from the reduction in working hours.
38.5
Hours Projected for 2024
The maximum working day in Spain is set to reduce to 38.5 hours per week this year, down from the current 40 hours.
37.5
Hours Projected for 2025
The Labor proposal aims to progressively reduce the working day to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week in 2025, as well as introduce more comprehensive time control.
