In a continuation of efforts to reach a consensus on Spain's contentious working hours reduction draft bill, Spanish Minister of Labour Yolanda Díaz and Minister of Economy Carlos Cuerpo are meeting once again this afternoon at the Ministry of Labour.

The meeting, scheduled for 5 PM, follows a preliminary discussion held last Monday, which, although positive in terms of atmosphere, left significant decisions outstanding.

The core issue at stake is the draft bill proposing a reduction in the working week to 37.5 hours, which has stirred debate between the involved government bodies, particularly concerning the bill's content and the urgency of its enactment.

Ministry of Labour officials have emphasized the need for an immediate response from the Ministry of Economy regarding the bill's legislative trajectory.

Consequently, there is mounting pressure for a swift resolution to facilitate rapid legislative processing.

From the Ministry of Economy's standpoint, it was Minister Cuerpo himself who requested today's meeting.

While both ministries continue to negotiate, unresolved points include the bill's application to part-time contracts and disagreement over whether it should be processed urgently.

The timeline of the legislative procedure remains a critical concern.

Should the normal procedure be followed, approval could be delayed, deferring implementation beyond the year, something Díaz's ministry is eager to avoid.

The Ministry of Labour extends its pressure beyond Cuerpo, targeting other socialist-led economic ministries, alleging they are perpetuating delays.

Labour Minister Díaz argues that the reduction of working hours was a commitment in the coalition agreement, supported by trade unions, further justifying the insistence on urgent progress.

Despite the ongoing dialogue, sources from Cuerpo's department have yet to confirm whether a decisive position will be articulated today.

Scheduled discussions in the Committee on Economic Affairs on January 27th will be a pivotal step before Cabinet deliberations, where urgency might be accorded to the bill.

Thus far, the proposal has garnered support exclusively from trade unions.

In contrast, the Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations (CEOE) has consistently held back from fully endorsing the measure, expressing concerns over parliamentary progress without significant backing.

Looking ahead, as this legislative proposal approaches the parliamentary floor, the Ministry of Labour intends to propose incentives to assist businesses through the transition, such as subsidies and tax breaks unveiled during prior negotiations.

However, the sufficiency of these measures in securing broad parliamentary approval remains uncertain.