Work conditions in Spain

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

40 hours

Retirement Age

65 years if 38 years and 3 months of contributions have been made, otherwise 66 years and 8 months. The legal target retirement age is 67 by 2027.

Working Contracts

The labor contract can be written or oral; for an indefinite period or for a defined duration, training contract, relief contract, termporary contract for work or defined assignment.
For further information, please visit the website of INEM.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

The 2025 SMI (Minimum Interprofessional Wage) (currently applicable to 2026) is set at €1,184 per month, paid in 14 installments, equivalent to €16,576 per year. If the 2026 SMI increase to €1,221 per month is ultimately approved, the Minimum Interprofessional Wage could not be lower than €17,094.

Average Wage

In 2020, the average annual salary was USD 37,922 (OECD).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: As of January 2022, the employer contribution is 29.9% for general contingencies, plus a variable rate for occupational accidents (e.g. 1.5% for office work).
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: The general contribution rates as of January 2022 are 6.35% for employees. 

Social Partners

Employer Associations

CEOE - Spanish Association of Entreprises Associations
CEOE - Spanish Confederation of Organizations of Enterprises
CEPYME - Spanish Confederation of Small to Medium Scale Enterprise
CEPYME Autonómicas - Autonomous Spanish Associations or Confederations
IPYME - Information Center for SMEs of the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

There are about forty trade unions (general or regional) and a large number of sector-based / regional unions (gremios). Collective bargaining is widespread in both the private and public sectors. The Constitution guarantees the right to strike, and this right has been interpreted to include the right to call general strikes to protest government policy.

Labour Unions

National Labor Union
Association of Trade Unions
Workers' Commission

Unionisation Rate

Union membership is low: around 10%. 50% of the working population is covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Labour Regulation Bodies

Department of Labor and Social welfare