Spain Moves Forward on Digital Time Tracking

Spain is taking the next big step in regulating working time. Its government is working on a draft Royal Decree that will define how companies must record employee working hours. For the first time, this will explicitly regulate the ‘right to disconnect’.

The changes follow the amendment of Article 34 of the Workers’ Statute in 2019. Since then, Article 34 requires employers to keep daily records of all working hours, keep these records for four years, and ensure accessibility to employees, legal representatives, and labour and social security inspectors.

Why a new regulation now? Until 2019 Spain had no general obligation to record daily hours, leading to unpaid overtime and weak enforcement. The 2019 reform was a first step, but gaps remain. Current rules are incomplete, lacking clarity on effective working time, objectivity, reliability, and the right to disconnect. Enforcement is inefficient, leaving workers vulnerable.

The draft Royal Decree aims to close these gaps and bring Spanish practice fully in line with EU law.

Why it matters (and what to expect)

The new regulation will be designed to protect the health and work-life balance of employees, prevent unpaid overtime and overwork. It should also help businesses by stopping unfair competition from companies that cut corners. If all goes as intended, labour inspectors will get real tools to enforce the law.

So, what will be the next steps? After a period of consultation, the final Royal Decree will be drafted with rollout expected in 2026.

What can you do right now?

Check whether your time tracking system can handle:

• Employee driven entries with identity verification

• Classification of regular hours and overtime

• Edit logs with traceability and time stamps

• Remote and immediate access to timesheets

• Retention of records for multiple years

If not, now is the time to upgrade.

Meet TimeMoto Cloud

Although the final details of the Royal Decree are still under discussion, TimeMoto Cloud already provides a solution fully aligned with EU and US labour and privacy standards. As a cloud-based platform, it is accessible to both on-site and remote employees, offering three flexible plans with advanced tools for time tracking, reporting, and planning. Go with a Cloud-only approach using the web service and mobile app or combine with a TimeMoto Time Clock for on-site clocking, making it adaptable to different workplace needs.

For businesses new to employee time recording, our beginner’s guide can help identify the best setup.

Prepare now by implementing TimeMoto as your digital time and attendance solution. Where to begin? Start your free 30-day trial of TimeMoto Cloud and discover all features of our most extensive Plus Plan.