The Spanish government approved the shortening of working time during the week from 40 to 37.5 hours. The project will now go to the vote of the parliament. However, the government does not have a majority and is seeking support, among others, with Catalan nationalists.
The project accepted at the Tuesday meeting was reported by the leftist platform Sumar, a smaller coalition partner of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) of the Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
– Today we are modernizing the world of work and help people be a little happier – said Yolanda Diaz, leader of Sumaru, as well as deputy prime minister and minister of work.
Over 12 million employees will benefit
According to the labor department, 12.5 million private sector employees will benefit from the new regulations, which is to improve work performance.
Main Association of Employers in Spain – CEEE has already opposed the government initiative, claiming that it would increase the costs of Spanish companies and reduce their competitiveness. However, the initiative is supported by the main trade unions in the country.
Now the bill will go to voting in parliament, in which the PSOE and Sumar coalition is not the majority. In support for his projects, he addresses small parts of Catalan or Basque nationalists.
Impact of shortening of working time on companies
The Together for Catalonia (Junts) and the Basque Party (PNV), emphasize, among others Negative impact of planned regulations on the activities of small and medium -sized enterprises.
According to the daily El Mundo, Junts is willing to negotiate, but wants to adapt the new regulations to the conditions in Catalonia.
In Spain, a 40-hour work week has been in force since 1983.
Source of the main photo: Jjfarq/shutterstock