Spain's working time records: inspection ramps up in 2026
Royal Decree 8/2019 still applies but enforcement is tightening. Current requirements.
Flux Team 16 April 2026 6 min
Spain's working time records: 2026 enforcement
Since May 12, 2019, working time recording is mandatory in Spain for all companies (Royal Decree 8/2019). What changes in 2026 is enforcement intensity: the Labor Inspection has announced a specific plan for the industrial sector with over 20,000 actions scheduled during the year.
What's valid
- Digital system with daily recording (not weekly/monthly)
- Real clock-in/out times, not estimates
- 4-year retention accessible to the employee
- Copy available to Inspection at any time
What's NOT valid
- ❌ Excel signed at month-end
- ❌ Theoretical schedules without real clock-in
- ❌ Systems allowing retroactive deletion
- ❌ Entry-only records (entry and exit required)
Penalties
Violations are serious under article 7.5 LISOS:
- €751 - €1,500: minor (occasional errors)
- €1,501 - €6,250: serious (deficient system)
- €6,251 - €187,515: very serious (fraud or recidivism)
2026 Inspection plan
Priority focus:
- Industrial sector with rotating shifts
- Companies with on-site/traveling operators
- Sectors with frequent overtime (metallurgy, construction)
Inspectors can request electronic records from the last 4 years in a single visit. Paper with signatures is no longer considered sufficient evidence.
Technical solutions
Any valid system should offer: mobile app with optional GPS, PIN or NFC kiosk, encrypted retention and PDF export with digital signature. Cloud solutions are most common.
#time-tracking#spain#labor