March 2026
Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 of 20 march, approving the comprehensive response plan to the Middle East crisis
Executive Summary
On 21 March, Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 of 20 March, approving the Comprehensive Response Plan to the Middle East Crisis, was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). It introduces a series of labour-related measures primarily focused on the following aspects:
- Temporary limitation on dismissals on ETOP grounds (economic, technical, organisational or production-related) and for force majeure in companies receiving direct financial aid.
- Bringing forward by one year (from 24 to 12 months) the obligation to implement sustainable workplace mobility plans.
- Linking certain public aid to the adoption of such mobility plans.
I. General Considerations
Royal Decree-Law 7/2026 of 20 March, published in the Official State Gazette on 21 March, is enacted in the context of an international crisis arising from the conflict in the Middle East and its economic, energy and social repercussions on the Spanish economy.
The regulation establishes a comprehensive response plan that includes energy, industrial, economic and social measures aimed at mitigating the impact of the crisis on companies, economic activity, employment and citizens.
Although the regulation contains a wide range of measures, from a labour-law perspective the relevant provisions are concentrated in Title VI, relating to social measures. These include measures linked to the preservation of employment in companies benefiting from public aid, as well as the advancement of the deadline for implementing sustainable workplace mobility plans as set out in Act 9/2025 of 3 December, on Sustainable Mobility.
