Spain brings forward sustainable mobility plans that must promote remote work
Spain’s Royal Decree-Law 7/2026, which entered into force on 22 March 2026, has brought forward by one year the deadline for companies to implement sustainable mobility plans. Companies with more than 200 workers — or 100 per shift — must now have plans in place by 5 December 2026, a full year earlier than the original deadline of December 2027. Critically, these plans must promote active mobility, public transport, low-emission travel, and remote working as a means of reducing commuting.
Why this matters for remote workers: This is the first Spanish legislation to explicitly require large employers to include telework in their corporate mobility strategy. The plans must be negotiated with workers’ legal representatives, giving trade unions a formal channel to push for remote-work provisions. Companies receiving direct support under the energy crisis package face an additional obligation — they cannot carry out dismissals on economic grounds linked to the crisis until 30 June 2026, and failure to implement the mobility plan on time requires repayment of all received support.
The decree forms part of Spain’s broader response to the energy crisis and builds on the 2025 Sustainable Mobility Law. A&O Shearman notes that companies should “initiate preparations early” given the negotiation requirement with worker representatives. The combination of the mobility plan obligation with Spain’s existing remote work law (Law 10/2021, updated November 2025) and the forthcoming digital time-tracking regulation creates an increasingly detailed compliance framework for employers managing hybrid and remote teams in Spain.
What to watch: The digital time-tracking Royal Decree is expected in April or May 2026, adding further requirements for tamper-proof, digitally accessible records of all working hours. For remote workers in Spain, this means greater transparency but also stricter documentation requirements. See our Spain remote work guide for the full compliance picture.