The Spanish government has initiated consultations with social partners to reduce the workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours.

Labor Minister and leader of the Sumar party, Yolanda Díaz, stated, "Reducing working hours not only means working less but also working better." She emphasized that Spaniards "deserve a work schedule that allows them time to live."

She also reminded that the legal duration of the workweek in Spain has not changed in the last 40 years, despite an increase in worker productivity.

Under the plan proposed by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government, the reduction of working hours, without wage loss, will occur in two phases: to 38.5 hours per week in 2024 and then to 37.5 hours in 2025.

Spain’s two largest labor unions, UGT and Workers' Commissions, welcomed the government's plan. However, employers expressed reservations, concerned about the financial viability in certain sectors.

Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations president, Antonio Garamendi, had previously stated that discussions should be sector-specific.

In recent weeks, Yolanda Díaz expressed her desire for a tripartite agreement involving unions and employer organizations. However, she did not rule out the possibility of negotiating only with the unions in case of opposition from the Business Organizations Confederation, as happened in mid-January regarding the minimum wage increase.