NEW MEASURES: All employees are obliged to clock in and off at workplace to avoid “fraudulent” overtime in Spain

THIS week all employees in Spain are obliged to clock in and off when entering and leaving the workplace.

The official Inspeccion de Trabajo has pressed for this measure for years, as Spain’s Work Inspectors believe this is the only way to curtail “fraudulent” overtime.

Legislation passed last March came into force on May 13 and as clocking on records must be kept for four years, workers will be able to access written proof, both of the number of hours worked and whether or not they worked overtime.

The devices used in companies where a clocking system has not been used before should be “reliable and not susceptible to manipulation” according to the Ministry of Labour, but also register breaks and rest periods so that these are not registered as work hours.

Failure to install a system could result in a fine of between €626 and €6,250.

Work Inspectors have already begun their checks although Minister of Labour Magdalena Valerio called on employers to comply with the new regulations “without stressing” but at the same time “to take them seriously.”