Congé en Espagne

Spain's robust labor laws ensure comprehensive leave entitlements for employees, reflecting a strong commitment to work-life balance and social welfare. These policies are designed to provide employees with necessary time off for rest, personal events, and family care, aligning with European standards and often exceeding international benchmarks. Understanding these entitlements is crucial for both employers and employees to ensure compliance and foster a supportive work environment in Spain.

The Spanish Workers' Statute (Estatuto de los Trabajadores) forms the bedrock of these regulations, outlining minimum requirements for various types of leave. While national laws set the baseline, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) can often provide more generous provisions, making it essential for employers to be aware of both general regulations and any industry-specific or company-specific agreements.

Annual Vacation Leave Entitlements and Regulations

In Spain, employees are entitled to a minimum of 30 calendar days of paid annual leave per year. This translates to approximately 22 working days for full-time employees. This entitlement applies to all workers, including interns, apprentices, trainees, and part-time employees.

Key regulations regarding annual leave include:

• Non-Cash Compensation: Employers cannot replace vacation days with financial compensation, except in cases where the employment contract ends before the employee has used all their accrued leave.
• Continuous Block: Employees must take at least one continuous block of two weeks of their annual leave.
• Accrual and Carry-Over: Annual leave generally accrues throughout the year and must be used by the end of the calendar year. Exceptions for carrying over leave may apply in special circumstances, such as maternity leave.
• Remuneration: Employees must receive their normal remuneration during their vacation period.

Public Holidays and Observances

Spain observes a combination of national, regional, and local public holidays. In 2025, there are typically 9 national public holidays, with the total number of public holidays potentially reaching up to 14 when regional and local holidays are included. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, it may sometimes be replaced with an alternate day, usually the following Monday, depending on regional government choices.

Here is a list of the national public holidays in Spain for 2025:

Date	Day of Week	Holiday Name
January 1	Wednesday	New Year's Day
January 6	Monday	Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)
April 18	Friday	Good Friday
May 1	Thursday	Labour Day
August 15	Friday	Assumption of Mary
November 1	Saturday	All Saints' Day
December 6	Saturday	Constitution Day
December 8	Monday	Day of Immaculate Conception
December 25	Thursday	Christmas Day

It is important to note that regional and local governments declare additional holidays. For example, Maundy Thursday (April 17) is a common regional holiday, and regions like Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Navarre, the Basque Country, and Valenciana may observe Easter Monday (April 21). Cities and towns also have their own local holidays, often celebrating patron saints.

Sick Leave Policies and Pay

Employees in Spain are entitled to paid sick leave, provided they furnish a medical certificate. The payment structure for sick leave involves both the employer and the social security system.

Duration of Absence	Payment Rate (of normal salary)	Payer
Days 1-3	Unpaid (unless employer supplements)	Employer (optional)
Days 4-20	60%	Employer
Day 21 onwards	75%	Spanish Social Security System (INSS)

• Maximum Duration: Employees can access paid sick leave for up to one year, with a possible extension for an additional 180 days, totaling up to 18 months, subject to INSS approval.
• Medical Certificate: A medical certificate from the State Health Services (Servicio Público de Salud) is required to certify the illness and the need for leave.
• Employer Supplementation: Some employers may choose to supplement the statutory sick pay to 100% of the employee's normal salary or cover the first three unpaid days as an additional benefit.
• Changes in 2025: In 2025, new measures are being implemented to more effectively control sick leave requests. Doctors will directly send reports to companies to enhance control and transparency. There are also considerations for a gradual return-to-work scheme for employees returning from long-term sick leave.

Parental Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoption) Entitlements

Spain has a unified "Birth and Care of a Minor" (Nacimiento y Cuidado de Menor) benefit, which provides equal paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers.

| Type of Leave | Duration