Pedro Sanchez has used International Workers’ Day to defend his government’s record, claiming the country now has ‘more jobs and more rights than ever before.’
In a message shared on X to mark May 1, the Spanish PM urged people to reflect on progress made in recent years and to ‘celebrate what has been achieved’ while continuing to push forward.
He said Spain must be proud despite criticism from what he described as voices that ‘predict the apocalypse’ every time workers’ rights are expanded.
The Socialists (PSOE) leader pointed to Spain’s economic performance, highlighting that the country is currently the fastest-growing in the EU, with more than 22 million people in work.
He also noted that the minimum wage has doubled over the past decade.
In a video accompanying the post, Sanchez looked back at the history of labour rights, reminding viewers that working long hours without rest was once the norm.
‘Nothing we have today was a gift,’ he said, stressing that each right was won through collective struggle.
He argued that Spain has made significant progress by raising the minimum wage, reducing temporary contracts through labour reform and strengthening job protections.
He also defended efforts to regularise undocumented migrants, describing the policy as ‘a matter of justice’ that helps prevent exploitation and ensures workers have rights and protections.
Sanchez also took aim at critics who oppose these measures, saying their warnings have repeatedly failed to match reality.
‘The facts are clear,’ he said. ‘There is more employment and more rights than ever.’
He ended his message by wishing workers across Spain a happy May Day.
