# Spanish labor law and medical leave developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-labor-law-and-medical-leave-developments > Updated: 2026-10-24T07:00:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Recent legal and legislative developments in Spain have expanded protections regarding medical and caregiver leave. In October 2026, the Spanish Supreme Court ruled against companies attempting to cap paid leave for caring for seriously ill or hospitalized relatives at five days per year. The Court clarified that leave is generated by each individual qualifying event rather than being subject to an annual ceiling. Furthermore, the ruling established that leave may extend beyond a relative’s hospital discharge if the need for care persists due to ongoing illness or convalescence. Concurrently, the Spanish government introduced Royal Decree-Law 31/2026 to provide medical leave for specific, diagnosed menopausal disorders. Under this regulation, employers are required to pay the full salary on the first day of absence, with Social Security benefits covering subsequent days. The law also removes the standard requirement for a minimum 180-day contribution period for accessing these protections. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-24: Spain introduces menopause-related medical leave protections Spain's new Royal Decree-Law 31/2026 allows for medical leave due to diagnosed, limiting menopausal disorders, ensuring full salary on the first day of absence. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spain-introduces-menopause-related-medical-leave-protections ### 2026-10-16: Spanish Supreme Court rejects annual cap on caregiver leave Spain's Supreme Court ruled that companies cannot cap caregiver leave for seriously ill relatives at five days per year, stating leave is triggered by each individual medical event. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-supreme-court-rejects-annual-cap-on-caregiver-leave --- Cite as: Spanish labor law and medical leave developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/spanish-labor-law-and-medical-leave-developments