Speaking English at work may become compulsory

Obliging workers to communicate in English at work may not be lawful in general, however there are mechanisms to require it in positions in which it is essential.

One year ago, in September 2017, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which belongs to the Ministry of Development, confirmed that it would not limit the application of European Union Enforcement Regulation 2016/1185, which established that, upon its entry on October 12, 2017, English would be the only possible language for communications between pilots and air traffic controllers, unless the competent authorities filed a request with the European Commission for Spanish to also be used for safety reasons.

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