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WORKING IN SPAIN

Spanish government to fight unpaid overtime with new algorithm

Spain's vice-president and labour minister Yolanda Díaz has announced a new measure to stop work hours from going unpaid.

Published: 30 May 2022 16:48 CEST
Spanish government to fight unpaid overtime with new algorithm
The Spanish government wants to tackle unpaid overtime, which especially affects the hospitality and construction industries. Photo by Cesar Manso/AFP

In the government’s latest move to tackle unpaid overtime, Spain’s second vice-president and labour minister announced on Friday that “a new algorithm to control overtime from the Labour Inspection” will be created “in the next few days”.

According to the latest poll Encuesta de Población Activa (EPA), Spaniards worked 27 million extra hours per month or 6.6 million a week in the first quarter of 2022. Forty-four per cent of those overtime hours are not paid at all.

“This is unacceptable”, said Díaz, who was attending a forum to discuss labour. While she added that the figures were at their lowest since 2011, she said “I will not be content with this.”

In order to reduce this “excessive” number of unpaid hours, Díaz said the government would use artificial intelligence, but didn’t give further details on the algorithm, which is expected to be unveiled in the coming days.

READ ALSO: Why working overtime in Spain isn’t worth it

Spain’s Worker Regulations state that extra work hours are voluntary except in the case of an emergency at work such as an accident or crisis. However, many Spanish employees feel they can’t oppose overtime through fear they’ll be fired.

In 2019, the Spanish government introduced new “clocking in” measures forcing companies to record the working hours of employees. The law was designed to “help correct the situation of precariousness, low salaries and poverty that affects many workers who suffer abuse in their working day,” according to the working of the decree.

The measure also aimed to uncover excess hours worked by those in the hospitality and construction sector, which is where exploitation is mostly concentrated.

READ ALSO:EXPLAINED: What you need to know about Spain’s new clocking-in laws for workers

At a forum on labour law in Valencia on Friday, Díaz also spoke about the gender pay gap in this issue. While men make up the majority of people working overtime, women make up a majority of those who are not paid for this extra work.

She also called for a redistribution of worker’s time in order to tackle the low productivity, which in Spain is the lowest in the European Union. 

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WORKING IN SPAIN

The best paid jobs in Spain which don’t require a university degree

Traditional academic qualifications are no longer a guarantee of work or good pay. In fact, there are numerous jobs in Spain which don't require a university degree that pay handsomely.

Published: 13 June 2024 17:17 CEST
The best paid jobs in Spain which don't require a university degree

While it’s true that for the majority of well-paid jobs in Spain, you do need a university degree, there are still several lucrative professions here that do not require any type of higher qualification. Here are the top 10 highest-paid jobs in Spain, according to a study by Spanish news site La Información.

Commercial airline pilot
A job as a pilot is a well-sought-after position, which is not only great for its earning potential, but also allows you to travel internationally too. You can earn anywhere from €60,000-100,000 per year and don’t need a degree, but you do need to take several courses and complete hours and hours of rigorous training and pass exams. 

READ ALSO: Which foreign nationals in Spain have the highest salaries? 

Air traffic controller
Air traffic controllers in Spain can earn anywhere from €33,000 to €100,000 a year and oversee air traffic at major airports across the country. All that is required is to complete an 18-month training course to obtain a licence. It’s also helpful to have excellent concentration skills, effective communication skills and quick decision-making abilities.

Events planner
Events planners obviously need to be highly organised, but can work in any type of environment from planning weddings to conferences and meetings for large corporations. For this type of career, you can earn anywhere up to €100,000 per year depending on what sector you work in. You don’t need an official degree but may need to take a course.

Estate agent
Whether you want to sell to other foreigners or work for a local company, selling property can be a very lucrative business, earning you between €25,000 and €70,000 annually, depending on commissions. You will need to take a real estate course to get your real estate agent licence. It’s helpful to be good at negotiating and have excellent people and sales skills.

Professional make-up artist
If you have a creative streak and love working with people, a career in the high-flying world of fashion and editorial shoots could be right up your street as a make-up artist. Your career could also take you to the worlds of theatre, films or even music. You will need to undertake a professional make-up course to get ahead but can earn anywhere from €18,000-50,000.

READ ALSO – Not English: The languages linked to high-paying jobs in Spain 

Airline cabin crew
Those who have the travel bug, are good with people and can speak multiple languages could become an air steward or stewardess for one of Spain’s big airlines. You must undertake a specific training course for cabin crew and can earn €20,000 – €46,000 per year.

Executive Assistant
Executive assistants for managers, CEOs and COOs can earn on average €31.718 per year in Spain. A degree isn’t necessary but you will need some type of administrative training or experience.

Oil rig workers
Oil rig workers perform a variety of tasks in oil and gas extraction. If you want to make this your career, yearly salaries are anywhere between €25,000 and €33,000. You don’t need a specific qualification, but you will need technical training provided by your employer. It’s important to have good physical fitness, be able to work in a team and have mechanical skills.

Vertical work technician

If you suffer from vertigo or are afraid of heights, this definitely isn’t the job for you. Vertical work technicians work at great heights, whether that’s fixing electricity lines and cables or washing windows of huge skyscrapers. Doing this type of job can earn you between €20-60 per hour in Spain. You don’t need a qualification but can work up to different levels depending on your experience. Level three technicians are paid the most.

SEO experts

If you have good computer and research skills, you may want to consider becoming an expert in Search Engine Optimisation, in order to help clients move their websites higher up the Google rankings or make sure that they’re found online by their desired customers. You can earn anywhere between €20,000-€30,000 a year and will need to have completed some type of course in SEO and digital marketing. It’s important that you have a deep understanding of internet algorithms.

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