Spain expands early retirement options for public workers and disabled employees

A new Real Decreto‑ley 19/2026, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 30 June 2026, grants public‑sector employees – including municipal, university and ministry staff – the right to partial early retirement from 1 July 2026. A transitional regime runs until 1 April 2027 to smooth the shift and the measure is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of workers. The law also adds a specific island‑complement for staff posted in the Balearic Islands.

In parallel, Real Decreto 632/2026, issued on 29 July 2026, expands the list of recognised disabling illnesses to eleven new pathologies (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, spinal bifida, etc.). Workers with at least 45 % disability due to any of these conditions may retire from age 56 without pension reductions, a change projected to help around 50 000 employees.

Both reforms aim to improve human‑resource management in the public sector and to provide stronger support for vulnerable workers with serious health conditions.