Spain's 37.5-hour work week bill killed in Congress with no revival in sight

Spain’s proposed reduction of the statutory work week from 40 to 37.5 hours has been effectively killed after Congress approved amendments tabled by PP, Vox, and Junts that gutted the bill. There is no parliamentary timetable for reviving the proposal, and legal analysts see no indication the working week will be amended in the short term.

The bill had been a flagship labour reform promise, but the minority government failed to secure sufficient support. The rejection means Spain’s statutory maximum remains at 40 hours per week, though many collective agreements already provide for shorter hours in practice. For remote workers and autonomos, the practical impact is limited since most already set their own schedules.

The stalemate reflects broader political fragmentation in Spain’s parliament. Labour minister Yolanda Diaz had made the reform a priority, but coalition arithmetic made passage impossible without support from regional parties who ultimately sided with the opposition.