After four hours of meeting, the Ministry of Labor failed to reach an agreement with social agents to reduce the working day. Of course, according to CCOO, the government has opened up to postpone the reduction in working hours until 2026 to 37.5 hours per week. However, Yolanda Diaz’s department denies this.
As this newspaper already announced in July, the Ministry of Labor does not rule out extend the reduction in working hours over time. And although in the coalition government agreement, the PSOE and Sumar agreed that the 37.5-hour day should arrive in 2025, the difficulty of adding the CEOE to an agreement ruined the plans.
“What we are talking about is that 38.5 hours may be applied in 2025 and 37.5 hours from December 31, 2025; that is, in 2026,” said Mari Cruz Vicente, confederal secretary of the CCOO Trade Union Action, at the end of the meeting.
Without an agreement for now and with a parliamentary procedure underway, the possibility of a reduction in working hours this year seems practically impossible.
Despite this, Joaquin Perez ReySecretary of State for Labour, has categorically denied that the executive is considering delaying the reduction in working hours. “I categorically deny that we are going to delay the implementation of the reduction in working hours,” said the number two by Yolanda Diaz.
I categorically deny that we are going to postpone the entry into force of the reduction in working hours. As indicated in the Government agreement: 38.5 in 2024 and 37.5 in 2025.
We continue to work at the table of social dialogue. We want to work less to live better.
– Joaquín Pérez Rey (@jperezrey) September 24, 2024
In any case, Pérez Rey assured after the meeting that he sees a rapprochement of the CEOE at the negotiating table. “We remain confident in an agreement on social dialogue,” said the number two by Yolanda Diaz. The parties will meet again on October 11.
However, Fernando LujanDeputy Secretary General of the UGT, considered that nine months of negotiations are already enough and asked the employers to “accept the majority opinion of public opinion”. Thus, the unions will continue their mobilizations, which will lead them this Thursday to demonstrate in front of the headquarters of the CEOE throughout the country.
