SPAIN | Internship: At work | Work conditions
The labour situation in Spain has experienced many changes within the past years due to new regulations that enable more flexible working. Temporary employment agencies have become part of the labour contracting scene, acting as mediators between workers and employers. The Government has also approved new forms of employment contracts.
All the information concerning employment contracts may be found in the Estatuto de los Trabajadores (Spanish Worker’s Statutes).
Minimum working conditions for employees are regulated. Furthermore, each company and/or business sector has its own statutes in which different conditions relating to employment contracts are specified.
If you have any question concerning this matter, you may refer to any of the trade unions.
Meals
Spanish people usually have three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Spanish people usually have lunch late, at around 3:00 - 3:30 p.m., after work in the morning. In split shift jobs, where employees must work during the morning and the afternoon, they have one or two hours for lunch at around 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Dinner is from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Siesta
In Spain, it is custom to take a nap ("la siesta") in the afternoon. It is more common in small cities. Siesta is about sleeping for an hour or hour and a half, around 4:00 p.m., usually on the sofa, in order to rest your body and to prepare you for the rest of the day.
Pay and Labour Conditions
In Spain, a full working week consists of approximately 40 hours, which may be completed either through a non-stop working shift or a split working shift – morning and afternoon.
Working conditions must be specified in a contract. The most common conditions include:
- Monthly pay: payment is made at the beginning of every month.
- Free Social Security with the possibility of taking out private insurance in some companies.
- There is a statutory minimum wage that periodically adjusts to yearly inflation (IPC).
- Right to paid-holidays (approximately one month per year).
- Income tax (IRPF) is deducted from the source. The law states that work-experience contracts or grants attract a 2% deduction.
NIE-Number
The Spanish NIE number ("Número de Identidad de Extranjero") is a unique identification number assigned to foreigners in Spain. It's essential for various legal and financial activities such as opening a bank account, purchasing property, signing employment contracts, or paying taxes. While the NIE serves as an identification number, it is not a physical ID card. For non-EU citizens, a separate residency card called the TIE ("Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero") is required.
A NIE number is required if your internship lasts longer than 3 months, if you receive a salary for your internship and/or your employer has to register you with the Spanish social security system. Even if you stay for less than three months and do not receive payment, it can still be helpful to have a NIE number as it facilitates many administrative processes in Spain. For example, for a public transport concession.
You can apply for a NIE number either in Spain or through a Spanish consulate in your home country. If you have your primary residence in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony or Thuringia, you can apply for the NIE number at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin.
The application process typically involves:
-
completing the EX-15 application form,
-
providing a valid passport and copies,
-
submitting documents that justify the need for a NIE (e.g., job offer, property purchase agreement),
-
paying the associated fee using Form 790.
Processing times can vary. If applying in Spain, you might receive your NIE on the same day or within a few days. Applications made through consulates may take longer, often up to three weeks. For more information see:
NIF-Number
The abbreviation NIF stands for Fiscal Identification Number (Número de Identificación Fiscal) and obtaining one is obligatory for all foreign citizens who reside in Spain for a continiuousperiod of three months or more. For information on how you obtain your NIF, contact your local Police station.