New Language Requirements for Customer Service in Spain

Junts per Catalunya has secured an agreement with the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez to grant Catalan de facto official language status for customer service in companies meeting specific criteria. This applies to firms with over 250 employees or an annual turnover exceeding €50 million. The deal involves significant changes to the Customer Service Bill, which will now mandate that large companies provide service in Catalan upon customer request.

Key Provisions of the Agreement

Under this pact, customer service employees in companies offering public services must undergo mandatory training in Catalan to uphold consumers' language rights. This regulation extends to all essential services of general interest across Spain, including:

• Electricity, gas, and water utilities
• Telecommunications providers
• Airlines, railways, bus transport, and postal services
• Paid audiovisual platforms
• Banks, insurance companies, and other public service businesses

The adaptation covers both verbal and written communications between companies and clients, ensuring comprehensive language accessibility.

Business Community Reactions

Sources from the business association CEOE have labeled this requirement as a new attack on business freedom, estimating it will impact over 6,000 Spanish companies. They warn of a potential domino effect, where other co-official languages like Basque and Galician might demand similar provisions, potentially increasing operational burdens and costs for businesses.