Hiring in Spain
Spanish employment law is employee-friendly. Understanding the basics protects you.
Employment Costs
On top of gross salary:- Employer social security: ~30%
- Employee social security: ~6.5%
Total cost is roughly 130-140% of gross salary.
Plus: Two extra monthly payments (pagas extras), 30 days holiday.
Contract Types
Indefinido (Permanent): Default type, higher dismissal costs Temporal (Fixed-term): Strict rules on when allowed Formación (Training): For young workers, reduced costsDismissal Costs
Unfair dismissal: 33 days salary per year worked (max 24 months)Example: 5-year employee on €30,000 = €13,562 severance
Tips
1. Use a gestoria for payroll (€50-100/month per employee)
2. Check collective agreements for your industry
3. Document everything—makes fair dismissal possible
4. Consider alternatives: freelancers (carefully), EOR services