Barcelona's social courts are giving dates for labour trials starting from late 2028, according to union sources. The delay, which already exceeds two years, reflects the overload of the judicial system in the Catalan capital.
Barcelona's social courts are scheduling labour trials for late 2028, it has emerged this week. The saturation of the judicial system in the Catalan capital causes delays of more than two years to resolve conflicts between companies and workers.
Consulted union sources warn that the situation is critical. "A worker who files a dismissal claim today knows that they will not have a hearing for another two and a half years," they explain. "This discourages judicial claims and leaves many employees in a legal and economic limbo."
The delay affects all types of procedures: dismissals, claims for amounts, substantial modifications of working conditions, or challenges to sanctions. In a context of economic uncertainty, the lack of a swift response from labour justice can exacerbate workers' precariousness.
The General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ) has not issued an official statement regarding specific deadlines in Barcelona, but judicial sources acknowledge that the workload in the social courts is "unsustainable." The number of judges and lawyers has not grown at the pace of labour litigation, which has surged following the labour reform and the energy crisis.
According to data from the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, over 45,000 labour claims were registered in the province of Barcelona in 2025, a 12% increase from the previous year. The resolution rate is below the intake of cases, resulting in a structural backlog.
The unions CCOO and UGT have requested the Ministry of Justice to create additional social courts in Barcelona. "It is not normal for a citizen to wait more than two years for a judge to decide on their dismissal," they state in a joint statement. "The right to effective judicial protection is being violated."
The Barcelona Bar Association has also expressed its concern. The Bar Association of Barcelona has called for the opening of new judicial positions and the digitalisation of procedures to expedite processes. "Slow justice is not justice," sums up a spokesperson for the association.
For workers, the delay has practical consequences. Those who are dismissed and do not receive unemployment benefits may be forced to accept any job while waiting for the trial. Additionally, companies can prolong processes to force lower settlements. "Many end up settling for lower compensation to avoid waiting years," lament the unions.
The situation is not exclusive to Barcelona. Significant delays are also recorded in Madrid and Valencia, although not as extreme. In the Catalan capital, the combination of high litigation, lack of judges, and case complexity has led to record deadlines.
The Ministry of Justice, for its part, has announced a reinforcement plan for social courts across Spain, but without specifying deadlines or budget allocations. Meanwhile, labour trials in Barcelona will continue to be scheduled for 2028.
You may also like
