Negotiations between the Spanish government and social partners over reforms to temporary sick leave have stalled, as labor unions condition their participation on progress in resolving outstanding issues related to public sector pensions. The impasse, revealed this week, threatens to derail efforts to address rising absenteeism in the Spanish workforce.
The Ministry of Social Security resumed contact with employer representatives and unions last week to reactivate discussions on reforming the temporary incapacity system. This followed a three-month pause caused by disagreements over contributions from the self-employed. Still, union leaders are now demanding resolution on pension matters before continuing negotiations on sick leave, according to sources within the unions.
Specifically, unions are pressing for the government to allow public sector employees to access partial retirement options. A 2021 pension reform stipulated that access to partial retirement requires a replacement worker with a full-time, permanent contract – a condition that has been implemented for private sector workers since April 2025 but remains unresolved for public sector employees.
Beyond this, unions are similarly seeking the reinstatement of partial retirement rights for civil servants and statutory personnel, benefits that were eliminated in 2012 during austerity measures implemented under the government of Mariano Rajoy. While the current government committed to restoring these rights in the 2022-2024 Framework Agreement for a 21st Century Administration, progress has been hampered within the Congress of Deputies. A parliamentary working group is currently drafting a revised Public Employment Law, incorporating proposed amendments, but a final agreement remains elusive.
The Socialist Party introduced an amendment to Article 27 of the draft law to specifically include partial retirement for public sector workers. The amendment also proposes raising the maximum retirement age to 72 for those who wish to continue working voluntarily after reaching the standard retirement age.
Further complicating matters, unions are also requesting an update to transitional provision 34 of the law guaranteeing purchasing power for pensions. This would modify the calculation of pensions for employees who accept early retirement through a workforce adjustment plan (ERE). Union sources have warned that without resolution on these blocked issues, progress on the temporary incapacity (IT) reform will be “very difficult.”
The Ministry of Social Security characterized a recent meeting as “very productive,” stating that “different contributions on the Ministry’s proposals” were presented. Ministry sources confirmed that negotiations are ongoing, with further meetings planned.
