In a significant move, the Spanish Government has sent a new bill to the Congress of Deputies aimed at reducing the maximum legal working hours from forty to thirty-seven point five hours per week. Vice President Yolanda Díaz described this legislative initiative as transformative, asserting that it would change lives and improve work-life balance for twelve point five million workers in Spain. This reform is the first of its kind since nineteen eighty-three and seeks to modernise the labour market amidst evolving societal needs.

Yolanda Díaz emphasised that the bill will not affect salaries and is aimed at better reconciling professional and family life. She mentioned that over twenty major agreements have been signed in recent years as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the working environment. The Parliament’s processing of the bill will allow for a discussion on the various political stances regarding this pivotal reform.

Further complementing this proposal, the Government has also launched the Strategic Project for the Recovery and Transformation of Housing. This initiative seeks to accelerate housing construction with a focus on sustainability, aiming to meet public housing demand that aligns with European averages. Housing Minister Isabel Rodríguez stated that this project underscores the Government’s commitment to ensuring the constitutional right to adequate housing for all citizens.

The initiatives come as Spain experiences record employment levels, with over twenty-one million people currently contributing to the Social Security system. The unemployment rate has also reached its lowest point in seventeen years, with significant progress in creating quality jobs across various sectors, showcasing a positive economic trajectory for the country.