The unpaid overtime in Spain represents the equivalent of 68,000 full-time jobs, according to a report from the Economic Cabinet of CCOO. The study estimates that 436,000 salaried workers perform 2.54 million extra hours each week that are neither paid nor compensated with time off.
The union emphasizes that unpaid overtime remains "one of the main forms of labor abuse" in the Spanish labor market and specifies that almost half of those who work extra hours receive no type of compensation or rest for that additional time.
According to the analysis, 5% of the salaried population works extra hours each week and, of that volume of hours, 40% is neither paid nor contributes to social security, despite the legal obligation to record working hours.
CCOO estimates that the unpaid extra hours generate an annual gap of 3.378 billion euros in salaries, social contributions, and taxes that companies fail to collect.
On average, each affected worker performs 5.8 unpaid extra hours per week, which translates to 7,696 euros per year in salaries and contributions that are not received.
Education, the sector with the most unpaid extra hours
By activity sectors, the Education sector accumulates the highest volume of unpaid extra hours. Following are the manufacturing industry, professional, scientific and technical activities, hospitality, commerce, and public administration.
If analyzed in relative terms, the highest percentages of workers performing unpaid extra hours are found in financial and insurance activities, in education, and in content editing and production activities.
In light of this situation, CCOO demands to intensify the monitoring and control of compliance with labor regulations in order to eradicate a practice that, in the union's view, "violates the rights of workers, distorts competition among companies, and results in a decrease in public revenues."