Understanding Spain's Mandatory Time Tracking Law: Royal Decree-Law 8/2019
The Royal Decree-Law 8/2019 mandates that companies in Spain record the daily working hours of all employees, including start and end times and breaks. This law, effective since May 12, 2019, applies universally across all sectors and company sizes, ensuring transparency and fairness in labor practices. Companies must maintain these records for a minimum of four years, making them accessible to employees, their representatives, and the Labour Inspectorate upon request. Failure to comply can result in fines ranging from €70 to €225,018, depending on the infraction's severity.
With the impending 2026 reform, digital time tracking will become mandatory, eliminating the use of paper and Excel sheets. Businesses must adopt systems that are reliable, objective, and tamper-proof, ensuring records cannot be altered without traceable logs. This shift aims to enhance compliance and ease of record management, preparing companies for future regulatory demands.