The healthcare landscape in Spain has undergone a significant transformation following the government's decision to implement regulations that had been gathering dust for over two decades. The Council of Ministers has approved it in the first round The draft bill for the Framework Statute is a comprehensive reform that aims to modernize the working conditions of thousands of professionals who support the National Health System. On paper, this measure seeks to put an end to precarious employment and adapt the rules of the game to the healthcare needs of the 21st century, although the path ahead will not be easy.
Despite the optimism they try to project from official offices, the reality in hospital corridors is far more tense. Medical groups have made it clear that They don't plan to give up. They are maintaining their call for a national strike planned for mid-June. They believe that, although there is talk of progress, the current text does not fully resolve their long-standing problems, and they feel ignored by not having their own negotiating space, which has caused discontent to spread like wildfire among doctors.
The new organization of schedules and the limit on on-call shifts
The point generating the most controversy is undoubtedly the working day. The reform establishes that the maximum weekly working hours will be 45, a reduction compared to the limits set by Europe. However, the real bombshell is the 17-hour limit for on-call shifts doctors. With this, the Health Ministry intends to eliminate the grueling 24-hour shifts that cause so much physical and mental strain on professionals, assuring that this reduction will not mean that doctors will earn a single euro less at the end of the month.
To ensure people don't burn out, the new text protects rest periods. A time limit is stipulated for disconnection of at least 12 hours Between work shifts, there will be a minimum weekly rest period of 24 uninterrupted hours. A key aspect is that these mandatory days off will not count as unpaid hours, thus preventing hospital management from claiming this time later as if doctors owed them regular working hours.
Job stability and the fight against temporary employment
Another key aspect of this draft bill is tackling the abuse of temporary contracts, a chronic problem that plagues healthcare workers. The legislation mandates that selection processes, the so-called public employment offers (OPEs), be convene compulsorily every two years at most. The intention is clear: that those who work in public health know what to expect and can aspire to a permanent position without having to wait a decade, also limiting the duration of temporary contracts to a maximum period of three years in vacant positions.
In the event of a abuse of temporary employment For those whose employment does not comply with the law, compensation of 20 days per year of service, calculated on fixed pay, is stipulated. This mechanism aims to pressure regional administrations to streamline their staffing processes and stop relying on precarious contracts that only serve as temporary fixes for structural staffing problems in health centers and hospitals.
Professional categories and new research staff
The reform doesn't just affect the clock; it also reorganizes how workers are classified based on the Spanish Qualifications Framework (MECU). One of the major changes is the creation of the category of statutory research staffTo enter this group, it will be necessary to have a doctoral degree, and these professionals will dedicate half of their day to science, being able to combine their laboratory work with patient care or teaching, which represents a boost to national talent.
On the other hand, the catalog of rights has been updated so that work-life balance is not an impossible mission. The text includes flexible working hours measures This applies to those with children under 12 or dependent family members in their care. Furthermore, a break is being given to older workers and women in specific situations: those over 55, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers can request exemption from on-call and night shifts to protect their health and well-being.
The reason for the discord: the fine print that doctors are denouncing.
If everything seems so rosy, why are the doctors so upset? The key lies in Article 96 of the draft, which mentions that, exceptionally, the On-call shifts may be extended up to 24 hours in hard-to-fill positions or during holidays and weekends. Unions like AMYTS and CESM denounce that this exception will eventually become the norm, allowing management to continue exploiting doctors under the ever-present pretext of "service needs."
For many representatives of the sector, this step taken by the Ministry of Health is like shooting themselves in the foot, since they believe it was drafted without consulting those who actually see patients. They criticize being lumped together with other professionals when their training and responsibilities require a different approach. own negotiation scopeThey feel that the Government is trying to pass the buck to the autonomous communities, which are ultimately responsible for salaries and the organization of daily shifts.
The legislative process for this law has barely begun, and now a public consultation period is open, during which a flood of objections is expected. While the Ministry is confident that this new common framework will be the definitive solution, doctors are preparing for a long battle that will culminate in street protests. The ball is now in the court of the regional governments and the parliamentary debate, where it will be seen whether we are truly witnessing the end of an era or if... marathon workdays in healthcare They've arrived to stay, under a different name.
