The new Catalan public employment law could soon deliver pay rises for nearly 400,000 public sector workers in Catalonia. Indeed, the Generalitat is finalising this legislation to stop civil servants leaving for better-paid private sector jobs.
Government officials plan to approve the draft bill this Tuesday. Therefore, this legislation aims to modernise a 25-year-old system that currently limits career progression for administration staff.
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Catalan Public Employment Law Enables Pay Rises Without Promotion
The core of the proposal is a shift towards ‘horizontal growth’. Currently, many civil servants feel forced to apply for different roles to secure a salary increase. However, under the new Catalan public employment law, workers will improve their working conditions based on experience and performance. Consequently, they can stay in the same job.
Alicia Corral, Secretary of Administration and Public Function, explained the administration needs to retain internal talent. She noted the current system often pushes staff to seek economic incentives outside the public sector. Meanwhile, this initiative comes as the region sees a record number of foreign workers in Catalonia, intensifying competition for skilled professionals.
“We will do like a private company when it recognises an employee who goes from junior to senior,” said Anna Molino, Director General of Public Function. This approach allows the administration to reward expertise without inflating management positions.
The new career structure will have four distinct levels: initial, consolidated, expert, and reference. Advancement will rely on meeting specific objectives rather than simply serving time. However, officials warned staff could lose these statuses if they commit proven disciplinary offences.
Catalan Public Employment Law Prepares for a Wave of Retirements
The urgency of this reform is driven by demographics. The Generalitat expects 24,000 of its civil servants to retire within the next decade. To manage this generational shift, the government wants to make it easier for staff to move between different public bodies.
The new law will introduce a mobility model allowing workers to transfer more easily. For example, they can move between the Generalitat and local town councils. A unified online platform will list vacancies and temporary cover roles across all administrations. This simplifies the application process. Furthermore, this reform mirrors other major administrative shifts, such as the recent transfer of rail management to the Generalitat.
The Public Administration School of Catalonia (EPAC) will oversee the accreditation needed for these transfers. This body will also design new selection systems to ensure the right skills are prioritised. In addition, these efforts to upskill the workforce are complemented by other public programs. These include new government-funded Catalan language courses for adults.
Next Steps for the Catalan Public Employment Law
This draft bill creates a Basic Statute for public employees. This legal framework did not previously exist in this form. It also introduces new rules for human resources planning. Moreover, it improves access for people with disabilities.
The government has incorporated 280 suggestions from over 650 observations received during the consultation phase. Officials say the feedback from social and economic groups has been positive.
While the governing party needs support from other groups to pass the law, Corral confirmed negotiations have been ongoing for months. The government announced its intention to move forward with the draft public employment law earlier this year. Finally, it expects final approval before the end of 2026.
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