Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 30, 2026, from the State Secretariat for Security, which determines the percentage of private security personnel assigned to essential services during the supra-autonomous general strike on November 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Publication | November 4, 2026 |
| Entry into force | November 11, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Private security companies and their workers in the twelve identified national strategic sectors |
| Category | Labor Legislation |
| Mandatory minimum percentage | 80% of personnel in critical sectors |
| Legal framework | Royal Decree 524/2002 and Private Security Law |
| Year | 2026 |
On November 11, 2026, private security companies providing services at strategic facilities cannot treat the general strike as an ordinary working day: the State Secretariat for Security requires them to maintain 80% of their personnel operational in the twelve identified critical sectors. The Resolution of October 30, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-23157) is based on Royal Decree 524/2002 and the Private Security Law, which require guaranteeing essential services even during strike situations.
The justification for the regulation goes beyond the right to strike: the text explicitly cites the current anti-terrorist alert level and recent public order disturbances in Spain and the EU as additional reasons for setting such a high threshold.
What does this regulation establish?
The resolution sets the minimum percentage of private security personnel that must remain active during the general strike on November 11, 2026. It is not a recommendation: it is a legal obligation with direct responsibility for the company and its managers.
The key elements established by the regulation are:
- Minimum threshold of 80% of personnel assigned to essential services in critical sectors.
- Twelve strategic sectors identified as the mandatory scope of application.
- Coverage especially required in: nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, water supply, gas supply, and electricity supply.
- Dual legal basis: Royal Decree 524/2002 (minimum services during strikes) and the Private Security Law.
- Additional justification based on the current anti-terrorist alert level and recent public order disturbances in Spain and the EU.
- Direct legal responsibility for private security companies and their managers in case of non-compliance.
The regulation does not detail the complete list of the twelve strategic sectors beyond the five explicitly mentioned (nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, water, gas, and electricity). For the complete list, consult the full text in the official BOE.
Economic and operational impact
For private security companies, this mandate has immediate operational and economic consequences:
- Guaranteed personnel cost: Maintaining 80% of the workforce operational on the strike day means paying the corresponding salary to workers designated as minimum services, regardless of whether they exercise their right to strike or not. Workers included in minimum services cannot legally participate in the strike.
- Emergency shift management: Companies must reorganize schedules with sufficient advance notice to guarantee 80% coverage at each strategic facility. This may involve overtime or mobilization of personnel from other branches.
- Risk of administrative and criminal penalties: Non-compliance is not a minor infraction. The regulation explicitly warns of criminal responsibility for managers, which increases the reputational and personal risk of operations managers.
- Pressure on contracts with strategic clients: Clients in critical sectors (nuclear, petrochemical, utilities) may contractually require compliance with minimum services. A failure on 11-N can activate penalty clauses in service contracts.
Who does it affect?
This resolution directly affects:
- Private security companies that have service contracts in any of the twelve identified national strategic sectors.
- Managers and operations managers of such companies, who assume personal legal responsibility for compliance.
- Private security workers designated as minimum services, who cannot exercise the right to strike during that day.
- Specifically, companies providing services at: nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, water supply, gas, and electricity infrastructure, and the seven additional strategic sectors included in the regulation.
- Corporate clients in critical sectors that depend on the continuity of private security services to meet their own operational obligations.
Practical example
A private security company has 50 security guards assigned to cover a nuclear power plant. On November 11, 2026, with the general strike called, the resolution requires it to maintain at least 40 guards (80% of 50) in service.
If 20 of those 50 guards communicate their intention to participate in the strike, the company must act immediately: it can only authorize the strike for a maximum of 10 workers from that group, and must cover the remaining 10 through reassignment of personnel from other facilities, overtime, or mobilization of reserves. The 40 designated as minimum services are legally required to report.
If the company fails to guarantee that 80% and the nuclear plant is left with insufficient coverage, both the company and its managers are exposed to administrative and criminal penalties.
What should companies do now?
- Identify all affected contracts: Review the client portfolio and locate which facilities belong to the twelve strategic sectors. Priority should be nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, and utilities (water, gas, electricity).
- Calculate 80% of personnel per facility: For each contract in a critical sector, determine how many guards must be operational on 11-N and who are designated as minimum services.
- Notify designated workers: Formally and with sufficient advance notice communicate to employees included in minimum services that they cannot exercise the right to strike on that day. Keep written records.
- Prepare personnel contingency plan: Identify reserves or personnel from other branches that can cover unexpected absences on the 11th. 80% is a minimum, not an optimal target.
- Review contracts with strategic clients: Verify if there are penalty clauses for coverage non-compliance and ensure that planning covers them.
- Document the entire process: In case of inspection or complaint, the company must be able to prove that it took all necessary measures to guarantee minimum services. Documentation is the main defense against penalties.
- Consult with specialized labor advisors: Given that non-compliance can result in criminal responsibility for managers, it is advisable to seek legal advice before 11-N.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of minimum services applies to the general strike on November 11, 2026?
The Resolution of October 30, 2026 sets 80% of personnel in private security as the mandatory minimum threshold in critical sectors during the supra-autonomous general strike on 11-N. This percentage applies to the twelve identified strategic sectors, with special emphasis on nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, and water, gas, and electricity supplies.
What happens if a private security company does not comply with minimum services on 11-N?
Non-compliance can result in administrative and criminal penalties for both the company and its managers. The regulation establishes direct legal responsibility for managers of private security companies that fail to guarantee the minimum 80% coverage in the affected strategic sectors.
In which sectors is 80% of private security minimum services mandatory?
The resolution identifies twelve strategic sectors. Those explicitly mentioned are: nuclear power plants, petrochemical facilities, water supply, gas supply, and electricity supply. For the complete list of the twelve sectors, consult the full text in the official BOE.
Can a security guard strike on November 11, 2026 if they work in a critical sector?
It depends on whether they have been designated as minimum service. Workers included in the 80% mandatory coverage cannot exercise the right to strike on that day. Only the remaining 20% of personnel assigned to essential services can legally participate in the strike.
What law is the obligation of minimum services for private security during strikes based on?
The resolution is based on two regulations: Royal Decree 524/2002, which regulates minimum services in strike situations, and the Private Security Law, which requires guaranteeing the continuity of essential services. Additionally, the regulation cites the current anti-terrorist alert level and recent public order disturbances in Spain and the EU as additional justification for the 80% threshold.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
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-2026-23157
