Work
in Spain
At present,
the Spanish job market is robust, which makes working in Spain an achievable
dream.
The
wages are
generally lower than those in northern Europe, but the cost of living
is lower and the overall lifestyle better. Most qualifications obtained
elsewhere in the European Union are recognised in Spain with the workforce
accepting foreigners into the community.
Obtaining a contract
of at least 6 months from your employer will guarantee you the same
rights as a Spanish employee. This contact should be read carefully
so getting it translated if you do not speak Spanish is a good idea.
Temporary contracts are generally offered for 3/6/9 months. After this
contract expires, to keep you on, the employer has to offer a long-term
contract to keep you on. They are not allowed to keep offering short-term
contracts.
Work hours
in Spain include a siesta (which is a 2 - 3 hour break in the afternoon).
Most business
shut down at this time and re-open in the cooler hours of the evening.
Spanish workers
are, like the lifestyle, quite laid back with no great rush to get
things
done. Their rights are heavily protected from exploitation with employee
contracts strictly adhered to.
Should you
be dismissed from your Spanish job, and do not agree to the reasons,
you can give a demand
for a conciliation within 20 days of receiving the dismissal. There
is no presentation of evidence here and as so relies on an agreement
being reached between the two parties. If one is not reached you may
then place a suit in the labour court. (juzgado del lo Social). If
your dismissal is found to be unjust you will receive 45 days compensation
for every year worked.
For those
from outside the European Union (Spanish work permits are
more or less automatic for EU citizens), getting a work permit can
be an ordeal. A Catch
22
can
arise - many Spanish employers will not hire without an existing work
permit, but work permits are difficult to get without guaranteed employment
based on special needs for a non-Spaniard.
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