Spain is set to reduce its standard workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours starting next year, joining a broader European shift toward shorter working hours. The move, championed by the left-wing government of Pedro Sánchez, aims to improve work-life balance and boost productivity.
If the bill passes through parliament, it will impact around 13 million workers. Some sectors, such as public employees and teachers, already have reduced working hours. However, business representatives strongly oppose the measure, with the lobbying group Cepyme arguing that it, combined with recent minimum wage hikes, will hurt small businesses’ profitability and investment capacity.
While the legally defined workweek in many Eurozone countries remains 40 hours, actual working hours vary. Spaniards, for example, work an average of 36 hours per week. Turkey has the longest workweeks in Europe, averaging 44 hours, while countries like the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany have the shortest.
France has had a 35-hour workweek since 2000, though the expected reduction in unemployment never materialized. Denmark follows a flexible 37-hour standard through collective agreements, while Belgium allows employees to choose between a five-day workweek or a four-day compressed schedule.
Spain’s decision reflects a broader European trend of rethinking work-life balance, but debates continue over its economic impact.
