Labour
Employment Contracts
Properly drafted employment contracts that protect your business and comply with Spanish labour law from day one.
What is it?
An employment contract is the legal foundation of every working relationship. Spanish labour law recognises a wide range of contract types — permanent, fixed-term, part-time, training, relief contracts, and more — each with its own requirements regarding duration, probationary periods, working hours, and termination conditions. Choosing the wrong type, or omitting a required clause, can expose an employer to significant legal and financial risk.
Spanish legislation has undergone significant reform in recent years. The 2021 labour reform substantially restricted the use of fixed-term contracts and strengthened the presumption of permanent employment. Employers who continue to use temporary contracts without a genuine legal justification face back-payment obligations, fines, and the automatic conversion of those contracts to permanent status.
GCT1 advises businesses in Elche and across the Alicante region on which contract type best fits their operational needs, drafts contracts that comply with both the Workers' Statute and the applicable collective agreement, and handles all registration formalities with the Public Employment Service (SEPE). We ensure your hiring documentation is watertight before any new employee starts.
Who is it for?
- Businesses hiring their first employee and unsure which contract type applies
- Companies that rely on seasonal or project-based work and need to navigate the post-reform fixed-term contract rules
- Employers who want to review and update their existing contract templates to reflect current legislation
- HR departments seeking a specialist to validate complex contract structures, such as part-time contracts with complementary hours or training contracts
- Business owners who have received a notice from the Labour Inspectorate questioning the legitimacy of their fixed-term contracts
What's included in our service
- Analysis of the operational need and recommendation of the most appropriate contract type
- Drafting of the employment contract in full compliance with the applicable collective agreement and the Workers' Statute
- Registration of the contract with SEPE via the Contrat@ system within the legal deadline
- Communication of contract extensions, conversions to permanent status, and modifications
- Advice on probationary period clauses, non-compete agreements, and confidentiality provisions
- Support in preparing contracts for foreign nationals, including verification of work authorisation requirements
Documentation you will need to provide
- Full name, NIF/NIE, and Social Security number of the employee
- Job title, job description, and work centre address
- Agreed salary and applicable salary grade under the collective agreement
- Intended working schedule (full-time, part-time hours, shift pattern)
- Start date and, where applicable, expected end date or project description
- For training contracts: employee's qualification level and the training plan to be followed
Key deadlines
- Contract registration with SEPE must be completed within 10 business days of the contract's start date (or before the first working day for certain contract types)
- For fixed-term contracts, the cause must be documented at the time of signing — retrospective justification is not accepted
- Conversion of fixed-term contracts that exceed the legal duration limits (in most cases, 6 months within 18 months) to permanent status must be carried out without delay to avoid automatic conversion penalties
Why GCT1
- We stay current with every legislative change, including the ongoing developments following the 2021 labour reform, so your contracts are always up to date
- Our advisors know the collective agreements that govern the main sectors in Elche — footwear, commerce, hospitality, construction, and more — ensuring salary grades and working conditions are correctly reflected
- We handle the entire process from advice to SEPE registration, eliminating the risk of missed deadlines or incomplete filings
- Free first consultation to review your current contracts and identify any exposure before it becomes a problem
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Free first consultation, no commitment. We get back to you within one working day.