Junts Blocks Labor Reduction, Threatening Key Government Initiative
Madrid – The Spanish government’s push to reduce the standard work week faces defeat after Junts, a key Catalan independence party, confirmed Wednesday it will vote against the measure. This decision throws into jeopardy one of Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz’s signature policies and underscores the challenges facing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government.
The proposed reduction, aiming to lower the work week to 37.5 hours, has been a central promise of the sumar-led government. However, negotiations with Junts have stalled, despite repeated attempts to secure their support. The failure to reach an agreement highlights the precarious balance of power within the coalition and the difficulties in securing legislative victories reliant on smaller, regional parties.
Junts’ decision follows a failed meeting with government representatives on Monday, where both sides acknowledged irreconcilable differences. “They don’t see margin to negotiate,” sources within Junts told lasexta. The party previously postponed a vote on the measure on July 15, citing insufficient progress in discussions.
Díaz has vowed to fight for the reduction until “the last minute,” stating in a recent interview with SER radio, “Whoever votes against, governs against workers and slams the door on them.” Despite Díaz’s determination, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños, acknowledged the difficult position, stating the Executive will “continue working until the last minute” to salvage the proposal.
The outcome of Wednesday’s vote is widely anticipated to be a setback for the government, potentially forcing a reassessment of its legislative agenda and raising questions about its ability to maintain stability.
