Madrid has made a decision that directly impacts the working conditions of hundreds of private school teachers. The regional authorities, in agreement with unions and employers, have reinstated partial retirement for teachers approaching the end of their careers. This outcome follows years of debate and anticipation, promising to reshape employment practices and staff renewal in the capital’s educational institutions.
Under the new arrangements, starting September 1, around 600 teachers will be able to voluntarily reduce their working week from 25 to 7 hours for the two years leading up to retirement age. During this period, the regional budget will fully cover their social security contributions. As El Pais notes, funding for these payments had previously been discontinued, which led to widespread discontent among staff and regular protests outside the Ministry of Education.
Agreement details
The compromise reached stipulates that only teachers who have worked at the same school for at least six years and are within two years of retirement will be eligible for the new scheme. Schools must demonstrate they are unable to pay the social contributions themselves in order to receive regional support. According to RUSSPAIN.COM, these measures could encourage staff turnover and help attract new professionals to the education sector.
The unions have welcomed the initiative, particularly the decision by the authorities to cover 100% of insurance contributions, whereas initially only a quarter of this amount was discussed. Representatives of UGT and Comisiones Obreras emphasize that the physical and emotional demands on teachers at private schools are often higher than at public schools, and the opportunity for partial retirement will help reduce burnout and improve the quality of work with children.
Impact on the labor market
A key part of the agreement is the requirement to hire new employees on a full-time basis to replace those opting for partial retirement. Priority will be given to unemployed candidates, and new hires must remain at the school for at least two years after their predecessor completes partial retirement. This measure creates additional jobs and helps reduce unemployment among educators in the region.
In addition, authorities have promised to change the rules for substituting sick teachers: now a temporary replacement can be hired from the first day of the absence, instead of waiting ten days as before. This step is expected to reduce the burden on staff and ensure stability in the educational process.
Context and expectations
The agreement takes effect at the start of the new academic year and will remain in force until the end of the 2026-2027 school term, with the option for annual renewal. Despite the progress achieved, unions point out there are still unresolved issues: reducing bureaucratic burdens, raising salaries for administrative staff, and leveling the conditions for temporary employees. According to El Pais, these matters remain on the negotiation agenda and could become the next steps in improving working conditions in the private education sector.
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly discussed reforms related to teachers’ working conditions and staff renewal in schools. For example, in the article about record employment growth in the country it was noted that the increase in jobs does not always lead to a better quality of life for workers. The new agreement in Madrid could serve as an example for other regions, where issues such as early retirement and teacher support are also under discussion.
In recent years, Spain has seen a trend toward revising pension and labor regulations for education workers. Catalonia and Andalusia previously launched pilot projects for partial retirement among teachers, although their funding and duration varied. In 2025, initiatives were discussed to reduce the workload for teachers in public schools, but comprehensive solutions were implemented only in certain regions. Overall, such reforms are seen as steps toward modernizing the education system and improving conditions for professionals working with children and teenagers.
