Spanish Unions Protest to Reduce Working Hours

Unions and government push for a 2.5-hour reduction in the workweek despite employer concerns over increased costs.

Protests led by trade unions took place across Spain to advocate for a shorter workweek.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government proposes reducing the workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours to boost productivity.
The government has offered hiring bonuses to small businesses to offset potential costs associated with reduced hours.
Spain's average workweek of 36.4 hours exceeds the EU average of 36.1 hours, highlighting the country's longer working hours.
The government plans to implement the reduction by the end of 2024, even without employer consensus.