Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30) - Spain (Ratification: 1932)

The Committee notes the communication from the Workers' Labour Union (USO)-Regional Union of Asturias objecting to the Act of 6 June 1994 on opening hours for trade. It considers that the opening hours established by the Act and the authorization to open on certain Sundays, subject to prior permission from the Government Council, are contrary to the provisions of the Convention; and that the Act is part of a deliberate policy on the part of the Government to encourage large commercial centres to the detriment of small traders who will eventually go out of business as a result. The Committee notes that, in reply, the Government states that the above Act determines only the hours during which establishments may operate and so does not prevent the application of sections 34 et seq. of the Conditions of Employment of Workers setting normal hours of work at 40 per week.

The Committee asks the Government to provide in its next report a copy of Royal Decree No. 1561/95 of 21 September 1995 to which it refers several times in the reply.