Catalan Authorities Propose Bonus for Civil Servants Who Reject Remote Work. In Catalonia, officials may receive up to €200 per month for fully opting out of remote work. The measure is being discussed amid a transition to a 35-hour workweek. The decision has sparked debates between trade unions and the authorities.
A new initiative is being discussed in Catalonia: the regional government is ready to pay civil servants from 90 to 200 euros per month if they completely give up their right to remote work. This measure is part of negotiations to transition to a 35-hour work week and aims to increase employees' in-office presence.
Currently, around 300,000 people work in the Generalitat system, more than 15,000 of whom have permission to work remotely. Authorities emphasize that the payment details are still under discussion and a final decision will be made after consultations with unions. A second meeting on this issue has already taken place, and the next one is scheduled for July 1. However, the proposal has already sparked disagreements: IAC CATAC is sharply opposed, while UGT and CC OO are prepared to consider the option under certain conditions.
The issue of remote work for civil servants in Catalonia has been regulated since 2020, when the relevant decree was adopted. After the pandemic, remote work became common for many employees, and the authorities did not revoke this right. However, the current government, led by Salvador Illa, believes that remote work reduces the efficiency of administration and insists on bringing employees back to the office. In January 2025, the remote work regime for senior officials was already canceled, which led to discontent and lawsuits.
The planned additional payment, provisionally named the 'complement for in-person presence', will be granted only to those who voluntarily give up their legally entitled two days of remote work per week. It has not yet been decided whether the amount will depend on position or if it will be given to employees who already work exclusively in the office. Government representatives emphasize that negotiations are at an early stage and a final decision has not yet been made.
Trade unions are divided on the issue. IAC CATAC believes that the new supplement violates the principle of equal pay for equal work and may lead to discrimination based on place of residence or gender. The organization reminds that many employees moved out of major cities expecting to work from home and will now find themselves at a disadvantage. Additionally, the union points out transport problems and the possibility of protests in the autumn if no compromise is reached.
UGT and CC OO take a more flexible position: they are willing to support the payment if it is granted to everyone working in the office, including those who are not entitled to remote work. CC OO representatives stress that for them, the voluntary nature of giving up remote work is fundamentally important. If the decision is imposed from above, the unions will oppose it.
Other changes are being discussed in parallel: the authorities propose abolishing the 25 hours of flexible scheduling introduced in 2012 as compensation for reduced personal time, as well as reinstating meal vouchers. However, unions fear that this may worsen the work-life balance.
The issue of public servants’ pay remains pressing: recently, the CC OO union demanded a minimum wage for administration employees of 1,500 euros, holding a protest at the Ministry of Finance in Madrid (more on the unions’ demands). Questions concerning working conditions and pay are becoming increasingly relevant against the backdrop of public sector reforms.
For reference: in Spain, the switch to a 35-hour workweek for public servants has already been implemented at the national level, but regions may set additional conditions. In Catalonia, the share of employees working remotely remains one of the highest in the country. The decisions being made now could influence work practices in other autonomous communities and set a new standard for the entire public administration system.
