The Government will reduce the working day to 35 hours for central administration officials starting in February

The Government has committed to the civil servants’ unions to reduce the working hours of public employees of the central administration to 35 hours per week starting in February of next year. This was reported by CSIF – the most representative union in the General State Administration (AGE) – and UGT in separate statements after meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Public Function this Wednesday.

If it finally comes to fruition, The reduction in the working day would benefit some 250,000 public employees of the State administration. According to the unions, the ministry has promised to approve the reduction in hours for the state public sector between the months of February and March. This measure had already been agreed upon in 2022 as part of the agreement to raise salaries between 2022 and 2024 by 9.5%, but had not yet been developed. This text also made reference to a reduction in working hours in local entities and public companies, although it seems that what is being negotiated now is limited to the AGE.

The 35-hour day is a historical vindication of central administration officialswho currently have a 37-hour work week. However, in other branches of administration, such as the regional government, there are already territories and sections with 35-hour days. In 2012, in the midst of the economic crisis, the Government of Mariano Rajoy approved increasing the working day by 37.5 hours throughout the public administration (the state administration already did so). However, over the years and once the bad economic situation has passed, some administrations have approved reductions in working hours.

During this Wednesday’s meeting, other issues that remained pending development of the Framework Agreement for a 21st Century Administration signed three years ago were discussed. One of the most notable is the development of teleworking, which the Ministry of Public Function has committed to discussing at the General Negotiation Table of the AGE in January. This body is where collective bargaining takes place in the state administration and unions and ministries are represented in equal parts.

In addition, unions and the Public Service have formed the monitoring committee of the latest agreement which included, among other issues, the salary increase of 11.4% accumulated between 2025 and 2028. The committee will have different working groups to develop the points of the agreement, including those on Employment, Occupational Health, Equality and Training in Digital Competence and Artificial Intelligence.

The 2.5% increase will be collected in December

This Wednesday’s meeting has also served to inform the Public Service that AGE workers will receive in December the 2.5% increase corresponding to this year and all pending arrears. The payment can be made directly on the December payroll or through an extra payment, CSIF has reported.

Regarding the rest of the administrations, the Public Service has been confident that the majority of autonomies will pay the arrears in December, although others such as Madrid, Cantabria or Galicia will wait until January. In local administrations, many town councils will pay arrears in January as they do not have sufficient technological means to correct December payrolls.