Key data
| Regulation | Agreement of June 15, 2026, of the Permanent Commission of the CGPJ, which modifies the Agreement of June 6, 2019 on specialization of the Social Courts no. 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona in executories |
|---|---|
| Publication in BOE | July 4, 2026 |
| Entry into force | January 1, 2027 |
| Affected parties | Companies, workers and labor lawyers in the Barcelona metropolitan area (6 judicial districts) |
| Category | Public Sector / Judicial Organization |
| Specialized courts | Judicial positions no. 5, 23 and 30 of the Social Section of the Court of First Instance of Barcelona |
| Judicial districts covered | Barcelona, Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró and Manresa |
| Applicable legal framework | Title I of Book 4 of Law 36/2011 (Law Regulating Social Jurisdiction) |
If your company has or expects to have final labor judgments in the Barcelona metropolitan area, the judicial body that will handle the execution changes radically from 2027 onwards. The General Council of the Judicial Power (CGPJ) approved on June 15, 2026 the expansion of the specialization of social courts 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona, which from January 1, 2027 will assume exclusively all labor executions regulated in Title I of Book 4 of the Law 36/2011, Regulating Social Jurisdiction (LJS).
The change is significant: the territorial scope of these specialized courts now extends to six judicial districts, compared to the previous scope limited to the Barcelona judicial district. This affects thousands of companies and workers in the area and changes where and how labor execution proceedings are handled.
What does this regulation establish?
The CGPJ modifies the Agreement of June 6, 2019, which had already specialized social courts 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona in the handling of labor executories, but with a more limited territorial scope. The new agreement expands that scope to the following six judicial districts:
- Barcelona
- Sabadell
- Terrassa
- Granollers
- Mataró
- Manresa
The specialization applies to all executions of Title I of Book 4 of the LJS, which regulates the execution of final judgments and resolutions in labor matters (dismissals, claims for payment, benefits, etc.).
| Aspect | Before (Agreement 6/6/2019) | After (from 1/1/2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized courts | No. 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona | No. 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona (no change) |
| Territorial scope | Barcelona judicial district | 6 judicial districts: Barcelona, Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró and Manresa |
| Type of proceedings | Labor executories (Title I, Book 4 LJS) | Same, no change in type |
| Exclusive jurisdiction | Yes, for Barcelona district | Yes, for the 6 judicial districts |
Economic and operational impact
For companies operating in the Barcelona metropolitan area, this change has direct consequences for the management of labor litigation:
- Change in territorial jurisdiction: Execution proceedings that were previously handled by the social court of the judicial district where the judgment was issued (Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró or Manresa) will now be concentrated in Barcelona, before courts 5, 23 or 30.
- Proceedings in progress or pending: Executions already initiated or pending initiation in those judicial districts may be affected by the change in jurisdiction, which may involve transfer of files and adaptation of procedural strategies.
- Representation costs: If the law firm or the company's legal department does not usually operate before the Barcelona courts, it may be necessary to appoint a solicitor or lawyer with presence in that location, with the additional cost that this entails.
- Deadlines and resolution times: The concentration of executions in three specialized courts may alter processing times, both for companies executing favorable judgments and for those facing executions against them.
Who does it affect?
- Companies with headquarters or work centers in the judicial districts of Barcelona, Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró or Manresa with final labor judgments pending execution.
- HR and legal departments of companies in the metropolitan area that manage labor litigation or have execution proceedings in progress.
- Labor law firms with clients in any of the six affected judicial districts, which will need to redirect their executions to courts 5, 23 or 30 of Barcelona.
- Workers with final favorable judgments seeking to execute sentences against companies in the metropolitan area.
- Management firms and labor advisors that accompany companies in labor court proceedings in the Barcelona area.
Practical example
A company headquartered in Sabadell loses a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal. The judgment is final in December 2026. The worker initiates the execution procedure in January 2027 to collect the recognized compensation.
Under the previous regime, that execution would have been handled by the social court of the Sabadell judicial district. With the new agreement in force from January 1, 2027, the execution is assigned exclusively to one of the three specialized courts in Barcelona: no. 5, 23 or 30 of the Social Section of the Court of First Instance of Barcelona.
The company's legal department must ensure that its legal representation is authorized to act before those courts in Barcelona and review whether the deadlines and procedural strategy remain valid under the new territorial jurisdiction.
What should companies do now?
- Audit labor execution proceedings in progress or pending in the six affected judicial districts (Barcelona, Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró and Manresa) to identify which will fall under the new jurisdiction from January 1, 2027.
- Review legal representation in the affected proceedings: confirm that the appointed lawyer or solicitor can act before social courts 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona, and if not, appoint appropriate representation.
- Update procedural strategy with the legal team or external law firm, taking into account the new competent body and possible changes in processing times.
- Communicate the change to the HR and finance departments so they take into account the impact on provisions for labor litigation and contingency management.
- Monitor pending proceedings that may be activated from January 1, 2027, to present them directly to the specialized courts from the outset.
Frequently asked questions
Which court will handle labor executions in Sabadell, Terrassa or Mataró from 2027?
From January 1, 2027, labor executions from the judicial districts of Sabadell, Terrassa, Granollers, Mataró and Manresa, as well as Barcelona, will be handled exclusively before social courts no. 5, 23 and 30 of the Social Section of the Court of First Instance of Barcelona.
Does this change affect execution proceedings already initiated before January 1, 2027?
Yes. The CGPJ agreement may imply changes in territorial jurisdiction for execution proceedings already initiated or pending in the six affected judicial districts. It is essential to review the status of each proceeding with the legal team to determine if a transfer of jurisdiction occurs.
What type of executions fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of these courts?
All executions regulated in Title I of Book 4 of Law 36/2011, Regulating Social Jurisdiction (LJS). This includes the execution of final judgments and resolutions in labor matters: dismissals, claims for payment, benefits and other labor rulings.
When does this change take effect and what regulation does it modify?
The new agreement takes effect on January 1, 2027. It modifies the Agreement of June 6, 2019 of the CGPJ, which had already specialized courts 5, 23 and 30 of Barcelona in labor executories, but only for the Barcelona judicial district. The novelty is the extension of territorial scope to six judicial districts of the metropolitan area.
What should labor law firms with clients in Granollers or Manresa do?
Law firms with clients in any of the six affected judicial districts must redirect their labor executions to courts 5, 23 or 30 of Barcelona from January 1, 2027. This may require enabling representation in Barcelona if they do not have it, and reviewing the procedural strategy of all pending matters in those jurisdictions.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-14539)
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-14539