In Catalonia there are a whole series of permanent or temporary contract possibilities, allowing companies to meet all their staff needs.
MAIN PERMANENT TERM CONTRACTS
- Ordinary full time contract for an indefinite term (Contracte Indefinit ordinari a temps complet)
Indefinite term employment contracts are mainly characterised by their unlimited duration. A contract is presumed to be for an indefinite term unless otherwise stipulated in the contract itself. - Ordinary part time contract for an indefinite term (Indefinit ordinari a temps parcial)
A contract agreed for a certain number of hours per day, week, month or year which are less than the working hours of a comparable full time worker. A "comparable full time worker" is a full time worker in the same business or work place, with the same type of employment contract, and carrying out an identical or similar job. - Permanent employment contract for seasonal work (Contracte de treball per a la realització de treballs fixos discontinus)
An indefinite term contract entered into for the carrying out of seasonal work on a permanent basis, which does not repeat on specific dates within the employer's normal volume of business. Permanent seasonal workers who repeat on specific dates are governed by the legislation regulating part time contracts for an indefinite term. - Indefinite term contract for disabled workers (Contracte indefinit per a la contractació de treballadors minusvàlids)
An employment contract entered into with a disabled worker with specific characteristics (such as a minimum degree of disability of 33%). There is a €3,906.58 subsidy for each disabled worker with a full time employment contract. If the contract is for part time work, the subsidy will be reduced pro rata to the agreed working hours. There are also reductions in the employer's Social Security payment for common contingencies.
MAIN TEMPORARY CONTRACTS
- Training contract (Contracte per a la formació)
A contract with the aim of acquiring the theoretical and practical training necessary for the proper performance of a trade or qualified job. Generally, such contracts may be given to workers of between 16 and 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. The contract must be sent in writing and last no more than between six months and two years (with a maximum of two six-month extensions). - Apprenticeship contract (Contracte en pràctiques)
A training contract entered into with a worker who has a university degree or a medium or high level vocational training diploma, or a diploma officially recognised as being equivalent. This job should give the worker the skills required for professional practice and enable him or her to obtain professional practice appropriate to the studies taken. The contract must be executed in writing and last no more than between six months and two years (with a maximum of two six-month extensions). - Contract for a specific project or service (Contracte d'obra o servei determinat)
A contract to carry out works or services with their own autonomy and substance within the company's business. In principle, although it will be limited in time, the duration of the performance is uncertain. It must be executed in writing, clearly specifying the work or service to be carried out. It can be for full or part time work. A maximum duration may be stipulated by Collective Bargaining Agreements. - Temporary contract due to production circumstances (Contracte eventual per circumstàncies de la producció)
A contract entered into to meet market demands, clear a backlog of work, or meet an excessive number of orders, even if it relates to the company's usual business. It only has to be executed in writing if its duration exceeds four weeks or if it is part time. In any case, it can be full or part time. The maximum duration of such contracts is six months in any 12- month period, to be reckoned from the moment on which the backlog or excessive number of orders begins. It is possible to stipulate otherwise by means of a collective bargaining agreement. - Substitution contract (Contracte d'interinitat)
A contract whose aim or cause is the replacement of a worker who is entitled to return to that position, the filling of a post pending the arrival of a definitive worker during a recruitment or promotion process, or during maternity or parental leave, due to the existence of risk during pregnancy or temporary incapacity. This also includes the transition to a situation of professional disability.
In order to provide incentives for the hiring people belonging to certain groups who, due to their characteristics, may have difficulties in seeking employment, Spanish legislation provides a a number of advantages in the form of allowances affecting the Social-Security contributions expected from the entrepreneur. Essentially, these allowances consist of reductions in the company's Social-Security contributions for ordinary contingencies, the reduction being applied at a specific rate (from 25% to 100%) over a particular period of time (not excededing two years).
