For many expatriates, second-home owners, and retirees in Spain, employing local domestic help—a cleaner, a nanny, or someone to assist with elderly care—is a common part of life. However, a significant legal change has quietly introduced a serious compliance risk that could result in fines of up to nearly €50,000 for households that haven't taken the necessary steps.
The grace period for a key new regulation has ended, and Spanish Labour Inspectors are now legally empowered to issue severe penalties to employers who fail to comply.
The New Law: Workplace Risk Assessment is Now Compulsory
The law stems from a Royal Decree introduced over a year ago, which aims to improve health and safety protection for domestic service workers. The core requirement is straightforward: Every household in Spain that employs a domestic worker, regardless of the number of hours, must have a formal Workplace Accident Prevention Plan in place.
This is not a suggestion; it is a mandatory obligation designed to assess and mitigate risks in the home environment.
The Penalty for Non-Compliance
The deadline for implementation was November 14, 2025. Since this date, failure to present the required documentation if requested by the Labour Inspectorate can lead to substantial fines:
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Minimum Fines: Starting from €2,451 up to €9,830.
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Aggravated Fines (Serious Infractions): These can escalate rapidly, ranging from €24,000 up to a maximum of €49,000.
This marks a significant shift, moving the responsibility for occupational risk prevention squarely onto the employer, even within a private home.
How to Comply: The Free Online Solution
Recognising that this is a complex and novel requirement for individual households, the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) created a free, straightforward online platform to simplify the process.
You must use this platform to generate your formal document:
1. Access the Platform
The official, free web platform provided by the Spanish government is: www.prevencion10.es
2. Complete the Assessment
The process involves filling out a digital questionnaire. You will need to enter your details (as the employer) and the employee's details. The tool then asks about the features of your home and the specific tasks the worker performs:
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Home Features: Does the home have stairs? Are there pets? What is the condition of the electrical installation?
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Worker Tasks: Is the worker cleaning, ironing, cooking, or caring for dependent people?
3. Download and Sign the Plan
The tool uses your answers to identify potential risks and suggests improvement measures. Crucially, it then generates the required document, officially titled the 'Plan de prevención de riesgos laborales' (Occupational Risk Prevention Plan).
This document must be signed by both you (the employer) and the employee.
4. Keep it Safe
Once signed, this document must be readily available at your property in case the Labour Inspectorate requests it during an inspection.
What Does This Mean for the Expat Community?
For those in the "Eye on Spain" community who rely on regular domestic help, this new requirement is an essential administrative task that can no longer be ignored.
While the new law is primarily focused on safeguarding workers, the responsibility for compliance—and the enormous financial risk of non-compliance—lies entirely with the employer.
If you employ anyone officially registered under the domestic workers regime, you should immediately use the www.prevencion10.es tool to generate and sign the required Prevention Plan. Taking this simple step now could save you tens of thousands of euros in potential fines down the line.