Spain Announces Expanded Bereavement & palliative Care Leave, Tackles Time Tracking & Dismissal Reforms
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Spain is poised to enact significant labor reforms, including extended bereavement leave and new provisions for family members providing palliative care, alongside a sweeping overhaul of time registration practices and dismissal procedures. these changes, announced by the Second Vice President of the Government, Yolanda Díaz, aim to address productivity concerns linked to employee well-being and modernize Spain’s labor laws to align with European standards.
Addressing Grief and Caregiving Needs
The Spanish government will introduce a Royal Decree Law extending death permits to a maximum of 10 days. Currently, bereavement leave is limited, a situation Díaz argues hinders productivity.”No one can work well two days after a loved one dies. No father or mother can work as if nothing had happened when their daughter is in palliative care,” she stated during a recent public address.
In addition to the expanded bereavement leave, a new permit will be established to allow family members time off to accompany loved ones receiving palliative care. Díaz emphasized that taking time to support family during these critical moments shoudl not be viewed as absenteeism. “He who buries a mother or who does not go to work because he has to take care of his child is not an absentee,” she explained.
The government acknowledges that absenteeism is a concern for the Spanish economy, estimating it’s impact at one and a half points of GDP. However, Díaz stressed the need to differentiate between genuine absenteeism and legitimate time off for critical life events.
Modernizing Time Tracking & Digital Disconnect
Alongside the new leave provisions, the government is launching a public consultation on a draft Royal Decree to reform time registration practices. This move comes after the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) determined that Spain’s current time recording systems are inadequate, lacking reliability, verifiability, and objectivity.
The reform of time control was reportedly a key sticking point in negotiations with the CEOE,the Spanish employers’ confederation,regarding the proposed reduction of the working day to 37.5 hours. According to Díaz,employers were aware that a shorter workweek was feasible but used the time tracking issue as leverage.
The new regulations will also address the right to digital disconnection, ensuring employees are not expected to be available for work-related dialogue outside of working hours.
Reforming Dismissal Procedures
On October 20,a social dialogue table will convene to begin negotiations with unions and employers on reforming dismissal procedures in Spain. Díaz aims to make dismissal more dissuasive for companies and more restorative for workers, bringing Spanish law into compliance with the European Social Charter.
She criticized past practices, noting that both the PP and PSOE parties have historically used dismissal as a punitive measure.This reform follows prior complaints from UGT and CCOO unions regarding the low cost of dismissal in Spain.
These comprehensive labor re
Why: The reforms are driven by a desire to improve employee well-being, align with European standards, and address productivity concerns linked to inadequate support for employees facing personal crises. Yolanda Díaz, the Second Vice President, is the key figure spearheading these changes.
Who: the primary actors are the Spanish government (led by Yolanda Díaz), employers (represented by the CEOE), and unions (UGT and
