Spain to Debate Reduced Work Week Amid Political Uncertainty

The Spanish government is set to discuss a controversial plan to reduce the work week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced during a business event in Barcelona on Monday, Bloomberg reports.

The cabinet is scheduled to debate the project on Tuesday.

While cabinet approval is largely expected, the bill faces a more uncertain future as it heads to the Spanish Parliament. Sanchez’s minority government relies on a coalition of diverse allies, ranging from left-leaning parties generally supportive of a shorter work week to pro-business groups potentially resistant to the change.

One key challenge lies in securing the necessary support within Parliament. Junts, a pro-Catalan separatist group and former ally of Sanchez’s Socialist party, has consistently voiced opposition to reducing the work week from the current 40 hours to 37.5. This lack of support from a key political player raises significant doubts about the bill’s chances of success.

The initiative is spearheaded by Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz, the leader of Sumar, the junior partner in the coalition government. Diaz is a strong advocate for workers’ rights and has championed the reduced work week as a means of improving work-life balance and boosting productivity.

An initial draft of Diaz’s project was first presented to the cabinet for discussion back in February, laying the groundwork for this week’s more formal debate.