Spain’s Socialist Party and far-left group Soumare have agreed to cut weekly working hours as part of talks to form a coalition government.
The working week will change from now, according to plans unveiled on Tuesday in Madrid by acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz as they presented a coalition agreement between the prime minister’s Socialist Party and Diaz’s Soumal party. of 40 hours reduced to 37.5 hours.
The coalition is still far from forming a government, as Sanchez still needs the support of several other parties, especially two Catalan separatist groups. He must win parliamentary support for a new term by November 27, otherwise new elections will be held.
A potential new Sánchez government is unlikely to approve a reduction in the working week, as passing the legislation would require the support of multiple parties, including some pro-business such as the Basque Nationalist Party.
Diaz, a communist and labor lawyer with close ties to unions, has worked to become an advocate for workers’ rights since joining the government in early 2020, when the Socialists formed a coalition with Soumare’s former party.
The plan to shorten working hours comes as Spain’s unemployment rate is at its lowest level in 15 years, falling to 11.6% in the second quarter. Since Sanchez first formed a government in 2018, the minimum wage has increased by about 47%.
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