A number of recently renegotiated collective agreements in the Spanish metalworking sector are replacing the traditional 100% full wage continuation from the first day of sickness absence with a more restrictive framework, accompanied by specific conditions and financial penalties. This was highlighted in a report on collective bargaining published on 26 October by the employers’ organisation Confemetal. To implement this shift, employer representatives took advantage of the highly decentralised nature of collective bargaining.
As Madrid correspondent for mind RH since 2021, I cover news developments in Spain's world of work, focusing on legal developments and collective bargaining, particularly around work-life balance, equality and inclusion policies, which have been hot topics in the country in recent years.