Relaxed culture, great cuisine, and unique history
With its high standard of living, incredible climate, and relatively affordable lifestyle, it’s no surprise that Spain is one of the world's most popular destinations to immigrate. Spain enjoys a relaxed culture, great cuisine, and a unique history which is still prevalent in its cities and architecture.
Spain’s culture is vast, from its Arabic-inspired customs across the Andalusian region to the more European-influenced areas of its central and Northern parts. When it comes to Spain, there is absolutely something for everybody to enjoy in this unique nation.
As a part of the European Union, the Spanish market is easily accessible for expatriates and foreign businesses within the EU. For those outside of the EU, partnering with a Spain PEO provider like Procorre Global can prove useful to expedite and simplify the process.
Working in Spain
Employment Information
- Employer's social contributions total 32.5% of the gross remuneration. Employee social contributions total approximately 6.5% of the gross remuneration. There are ceilings for both employer and employee contributions.
- Contracts registered with the local authorities must be in Spanish however, bilingual wording is permitted. Contracts must always be in writing.
- It is not possible to backdate contracts. Contracts must be signed before work commences.
- Fixed-term contracts can be used in limited situations. They can be extended once and cannot total more than 24 months. Fixed-term contracts can only be terminated early by the employer with 15 days prenotice and indemnity paid to employee.
- Probation periods are limited based on the employee’s qualifications/seniority:
- Qualified employees can have a probationary period up to 6 months.
- Unqualified employees are limited to two months’ probation.
Working Hours
The maximum working time per week is 40 hours. Flexible working schedules can be arranged, but with a limit of 9 ordinary hours of work per day.
Overtime cannot exceed 80 hours per year and should be paid at least 100% of the employee’s standard hourly rate.
Paying Employees in Spain
For most employees, the minimum monthly wage in 2019 is €900 based on 14 payments per year.
Bonuses may be paid; these may be either discretionary or contractual. Discretionary bonuses are at the employer’s discretion and are treated as salary, whereas contractual bonuses are part of salary and can only be modified with the employee’s consent. Terms and conditions are determined by the parties and must be included in the employment agreement to be enforced.
Work-related expenses can be reimbursed, including travel expenses, except for home-to-workplace commuting expenses for which statutory allowances apply.
After one year of continuous employment, employees are entitled to a minimum of 22 working days paid annual leave. Holiday entitlement usually cannot be replaced by payment in lieu, however this may vary according to the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Public Holidays in Spain
- Jan 1 - New Year’s Day
- Jan 6 - Epiphany
- Apr 19 - Good Friday
- May 1 - Labour Day
- Aug 15 - Assumption of Mary
- Oct 12 - Fiesta Nacional de España
- Nov 1 - All Saints Day
- Dec 6 - Constitution Day
- Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Please note the above lists the national public holidays, additional regional holidays may also apply.
Cultural Information
Both the Spanish mainland and the islands offer a variety of unique culture for visitors. Expats and tourists in Spain can generally expect friendliness from locals, and English speaking is fairly prevalent across the country.
Spanish is the official language in Spain, although other languages such as Galician, Catalan and Basque are also spoken throughout the nation. The primary religion in Spain is Catholicism, however Islamic, Hindu, and Jewish groups are found all through Spain.
Impacts from COVID-19
Spain was one of the first nations to be hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the introduction of preventative measures quickly curbed the spread of the virus. As of 2022, Spain achieved high vaccination rates and is gradually moving towards normality again. Many businesses in Spain have chosen to continue remote working practices and offering flexible patterns to their employees.
The Spanish Market – Did you know?
- Spain was the world's first global empire, and its presence is still felt in much of South America. As a result of this, Spanish is the second most spoken native language worldwide
- In Spain, it is considered good luck to eat 12 grapes at once to see in the New Year
- 'Don Quixote', the world's first modern novel, was written by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes
- Similar to Italian and French, Spanish is one of the Romance Languages, and derives from Vulgar Latin.
Spain PEO Services
Spain PEO Services
With its high standard of living, incredible climate, and relatively affordable lifestyle, it’s no surprise that Spain is one of the world's most popular destinations to immigrate. Spain enjoys a relaxed culture, great cuisine, and a unique history which is still prevalent in its cities and architecture.
Spain’s culture is vast, from its Arabic-inspired customs across the Andalusian region to the more European-influenced areas of its central and Northern parts. When it comes to Spain, there is absolutely something for everybody to enjoy in this unique nation.
As a part of the European Union, the Spanish market is easily accessible for expatriates and foreign businesses within the EU. For those outside of the EU, partnering with a Spain PEO provider like Procorre Global can prove useful to expedite and simplify the process.
Working in Spain
Employment Information
- Employer's social contributions total 32.5% of the gross remuneration. Employee social contributions total approximately 6.5% of the gross remuneration. There are ceilings for both employer and employee contributions.
- Contracts registered with the local authorities must be in Spanish however, bilingual wording is permitted. Contracts must always be in writing.
- It is not possible to backdate contracts. Contracts must be signed before work commences.
- Fixed-term contracts can be used in limited situations. They can be extended once and cannot total more than 24 months. Fixed-term contracts can only be terminated early by the employer with 15 days prenotice and indemnity paid to employee.
- Probation periods are limited based on the employee’s qualifications/seniority:
- Qualified employees can have a probationary period up to 6 months.
- Unqualified employees are limited to two months’ probation.
Working Hours
The maximum working time per week is 40 hours. Flexible working schedules can be arranged, but with a limit of 9 ordinary hours of work per day.
Overtime cannot exceed 80 hours per year and should be paid at least 100% of the employee’s standard hourly rate.
Paying Employees in Spain
For most employees, the minimum monthly wage in 2019 is €900 based on 14 payments per year.
Bonuses may be paid; these may be either discretionary or contractual. Discretionary bonuses are at the employer’s discretion and are treated as salary, whereas contractual bonuses are part of salary and can only be modified with the employee’s consent. Terms and conditions are determined by the parties and must be included in the employment agreement to be enforced.
Work-related expenses can be reimbursed, including travel expenses, except for home-to-workplace commuting expenses for which statutory allowances apply.
After one year of continuous employment, employees are entitled to a minimum of 22 working days paid annual leave. Holiday entitlement usually cannot be replaced by payment in lieu, however this may vary according to the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Public Holidays in Spain
- Jan 1 - New Year’s Day
- Jan 6 - Epiphany
- Apr 19 - Good Friday
- May 1 - Labour Day
- Aug 15 - Assumption of Mary
- Oct 12 - Fiesta Nacional de España
- Nov 1 - All Saints Day
- Dec 6 - Constitution Day
- Dec 25 - Christmas Day
Please note the above lists the national public holidays, additional regional holidays may also apply.
Cultural Information
Both the Spanish mainland and the islands offer a variety of unique culture for visitors. Expats and tourists in Spain can generally expect friendliness from locals, and English speaking is fairly prevalent across the country.
Spanish is the official language in Spain, although other languages such as Galician, Catalan and Basque are also spoken throughout the nation. The primary religion in Spain is Catholicism, however Islamic, Hindu, and Jewish groups are found all through Spain.
Impacts from COVID-19
Spain was one of the first nations to be hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the introduction of preventative measures quickly curbed the spread of the virus. As of 2022, Spain achieved high vaccination rates and is gradually moving towards normality again. Many businesses in Spain have chosen to continue remote working practices and offering flexible patterns to their employees.
The Spanish Market - Did you know?
- Spain was the world's first global empire, and its presence is still felt in much of South America. As a result of this, Spanish is the second most spoken native language worldwide
- In Spain, it is considered good luck to eat 12 grapes at once to see in the New Year
- 'Don Quixote', the world's first modern novel, was written by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes
- Similar to Italian and French, Spanish is one of the Romance Languages, and derives from Vulgar Latin.
Are you interested in our management consultancy services?
Procorre (UK) Ltd, 1 Temple Quay, Bristol, England, BS1 6DZ. Company Number: 07644727
