Spain's Government Approves Partial Retirement for Public Sector Employees

The Spanish Council of Ministers approved a decree allowing labor staff in state, regional and municipal administrations to retire up to three years before the normal retirement age. Eligible workers must have at least 33 years of contributions, a minimum of six consecutive years of service, and can reduce their working time by 25‑75 %. The law creates a temporary “interim replacement” contract for the substitute worker, enabling administrations to fill the vacancy while a permanent replacement is sought. The measure excludes civil servants, but unions praised it as a fulfilment of a promise to restore partial retirement that had been blocked by a 2024 reform. The decree now awaits ratification by the Congress of Deputies.