Work culture in retail, call centres and domestic work

Key rules

• Collective agreement: Your hours and breaks depend on the sector's collective agreement, so ask which one applies.
• Sunday opening: Sunday and holiday opening in shops depends on your region.
• Call centres: Foreign-language call-centre jobs are concentrated in Barcelona and Madrid and are usually low-paid.
• Domestic work: Domestic workers are in Social Security and are entitled to at least the minimum wage and 36 consecutive hours of weekly rest.

What service jobs have in common

Service jobs in Spain run on shifts, and weekends are often part of the week. Hours, breaks and days off depend on your sector's collective agreement (the "convenio"), so ask which one applies before you sign. The ordinary working week is 40 hours on average over the year, with at least 12 hours between shifts, although a sector agreement may set fewer hours.

Rights for informal work, such as cash-in-hand cleaning, are covered on the jobs and salary pages. This page covers the norms.

Retail

Expect rotating shifts (mornings one week, afternoons the next) or a split shift, called jornada partida, with a long midday break.

• Small shops usually open about 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-21:00.
• Big stores and malls open continuously, about 10:00-22:00.
• Weekend work is common. Weekly rest averages 1.5 days.
• Part-time contracts are widespread.
• Your schedule should be communicated to you in advance under the collective agreement.

Sunday and holiday opening is limited by regional rules, including tourist zones. Check what applies in your region and which collective agreement covers your employer.

Call centres

A call centre is often the easiest first job if you speak a foreign language. Employers hire for customer service, tech support and sales for multinational companies.

• Where: The main hubs are Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Valencia, Sevilla and Granada. Bilbao and the Canary Islands have fewer.
• Languages: Barcelona and Madrid have the widest range: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Nordic languages, Arabic and Russian.
• Hours: Work is shift-based. Some contracts are part-time or 6 hours a day.
• Pay: Pay is usually near the bottom of the scale, often close to the contact centre collective agreement. Targets are common.
• Turnover: Turnover is high. Some roles are remote or hybrid, depending on the employer.

Pay and language demand change with client contracts, so compare offers.

Domestic work

Cleaning, cooking and caring in a private home is covered by a special set of rules. Foreign workers need work authorisation.

• Contract: A written contract is advisable, though an oral one is valid. Ask for it in writing.
• Hours: The maximum is 40 hours a week of actual work.
• Rest: You get at least 12 hours of rest a day and 36 consecutive hours a week. Live-in workers get 10 hours of daily rest and two hours for meals.
• Pay: Pay must be at least the minimum wage, pro rata if you work part-time.
• Benefits: Since 2023 you are in the General Social Security System and have the right to unemployment benefit. Your employer registers you and pays contributions, and must meet health and safety duties.
• Dismissal: Dismissal for misconduct needs a justification.

If your employer does not register you, ask about it in writing and see the jobs and salary pages.

Is it a good first job?

Call-centre work is a common entry point, especially in Barcelona and Madrid, but expect low pay. Retail suits you if your Spanish is good enough for customers. The questions below cover more.

Frequently asked questions

Which Spanish cities have the most call-centre jobs in foreign languages?

Barcelona and Madrid have the widest range of languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Nordic languages, Arabic and Russian. Málaga, Valencia, Sevilla and Granada are also main hubs, and Bilbao and the Canary Islands to a lesser degree. Roles are usually customer service, tech support or sales for multinationals.

Is a call-centre job a good first job for a foreigner in Spain?

Yes, it is a common entry point for foreigners, but pay is often close to the contact centre sector agreement, near the bottom of the scale. Work is shift-based and target-driven, turnover is high, and some contracts are 6 hours or part-time. Some employers offer remote or hybrid work, so ask before you accept.

Do domestic workers need a written contract in Spain?

No, an oral contract is valid for domestic work, but a written one is advisable. Put the hours, pay and live-in arrangements on paper so both sides know them.

What rest and protection do domestic workers have?

Domestic workers get at least 12 hours of daily rest (10 hours for live-in workers, who must also have two hours for meals) and 36 consecutive hours of weekly rest. Since 2023 they are in the General Social Security System and have the right to unemployment benefit.