Spanish working time law

The most important laws and rules are summarized for you here. We accept no liability for this article. If you have any legal questions or require more detailed information, we recommend that you consult a legal expert.

You can read the exact regulations and exceptions HERE. 

Maximum working hours for employees

The Spanish working time law protects employees by stipulating maximum working hours and prohibitions for certain days.

According to the collective agreement, the maximum weekly working time is 40 hours (weekly average over one year). The normal daily working time may not exceed 9 hours. 

Depending on the collective agreement, working hours can be distributed and adjusted irregularly. 

Some activities have adapted regulations. For example, stricter rules apply to night work and shift work. There are also special protective measures for employees between the ages of 16 and 18. However, these strict regulations are not measured by this software and must therefore be considered and implemented independently.

Rest breaks

All employees have the right to breaks during their working hours. These are mainly for rest and refreshment. 

If the total working time in one day is longer than 6 hours, a rest break of at least 15 minutes must be taken.

Rest periods

Rest periods are important to maintain the health, safety and performance of employees.

All employees have the right to a daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours. Within a week, employees must have a continuous rest period of 36 hours in total.