Barcelona agrees on a historic 35-hour working week for municipal employees

Barcelona reduces the municipal working week to 35 hours. The new agreement affects 15,000 employees. It includes improvements in work-life balance and citizen services. Find out how public services will change. What do the unions and the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona think? Read all the details.

The Ayuntamiento de Barcelona and the unions CC.OO., UGT y CSIF have reached a key agreement after almost a year of intense negotiations. The new collective agreement, which will come into effect in 2026, will regulate the working conditions of around 15,000 municipal workers and represents one of the most significant reforms in the city in the past two decades.

The agreement stands out for reducing the working week to 35 hours for most staff with standard hours, removing mandatory afternoon shifts. It also introduces a digital disconnection protocol and an annual allowance of 2,500 euros for those who reduce their hours to care for children aged between 6 and 13.

Supported by 13 of the 15 representatives on the negotiating committee, the agreement also includes extended opening hours at the Oficinas de Atención Ciudadana and the Red de Oficinas de Vivienda de Barcelona. It strengthens occupational risk prevention and promotes equality within the municipal environment.

Among the specific measures, the agreement aims to provide greater stability for teams responsible for cover in public nurseries and in the IMSS, as well as continuing digital training for staff to improve the efficiency of public services.

The Ayuntamiento de Barcelona considers this agreement a historic milestone, as such broad consensus has not been achieved in 20 years. In addition to improving working conditions, the agreement aims to raise the quality of municipal services and citizen care.