Spain’s workweek revolution? Government pushes for 37.5 hours without pay cuts

The Spanish government is accelerating plans to cut the standard workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours—without reducing salaries.

If approved, this would mark one of the biggest shifts in Spain’s labour laws in decades.

But while workers are celebrating the idea of more free time, businesses and political opponents are raising alarms about the potential consequences.

Why Spain wants a shorter workweek

The move, championed by Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, is aimed at boosting productivity and improving work-life balance. Supporters argue that working fewer hours leads to happier, healthier, and more efficient employees, which in turn benefits companies.

Initially, the plan was to gradually reduce hours, but after months of delays, Díaz is pushing to fast-track the change to 37.5 hours outright.

Another key aspect? The right to disconnect. If passed, this law would ban employers from contacting workers outside of office hours, ensuring that time off is truly time off.

Business leaders wary of shorter workweek – Is it a bridge too far?

Unions are raising a glass to the idea of a shorter working week in Spain, but business leaders aren’t quite so keen. They’re worried that cutting hours without adjusting pay packets will simply mean higher costs. Companies, they argue, will be shelling out the same wages for less work.

Big corporations might be able to weather this change, but it’s the small and medium-sized businesses – the very backbone of the Spanish economy – that are really concerned. Many fear they’ll have to take on extra staff or just swallow the extra cost, and that’s a real worry when budgets are already stretched thin. Some even suggest we could see prices going up in shops and restaurants as businesses try to recoup their losses.

And it’s not a done deal yet. This proposal still has to get through Congress, and there are plenty of political hurdles in the way. The opposition is likely to put up a fight, arguing that without a proper plan to support businesses through this change, it could do more harm than good. So, will this vision of a new Spanish workforce become a reality, or will it just get bogged down in political squabbles? Only time will tell.

Is Spain really ready for a shorter workweek?

If the law gets the green light, Spain will join a growing list of countries experimenting with shorter workweeks. But many hurdles remain, and the timeline for implementation is still uncertain.

For now, Spanish workers are hopeful—but whether this is a real change or just another political promise remains to be seen.

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