Uses of Time

Since 2017, when the Mayor's Decree on sustainable public procurement of the Barcelona City Council is approved, the inclusion of a performance condition for which supplier companies have to implement measures to facilitate the work-life balance of the contracted staff, is raised as a key instrument for municipal procurement to be a transformative tool. Since then, the inclusion of this clause in municipal contracts has been increasing.

In 2021, a protocol for the application and compliance of the clause was approved, aligning the requirements with the areas in which the City Council works within the framework of the Barcelona Time Pact, addressing issues such as flexible working hours, teleworking, and co-responsibility in care.

Likewise, in 2023 the Equality Advice Service for Companies, offered by the Directorate of Feminisms and LGTBI Services in collaboration with Barcelona Activa, was expanded through the incorporation of a specific focus on time organization, which, among other things, provides support in the implementation of these measures.

During 2024, training for staff has continued and new resources have been designed to facilitate the inclusion and monitoring of the clause. The design of the tools:

• TOOL 1: Application of gender equality clauses in the preparation phase of a municipal contract
• TOOL 2: Monitoring of gender equality clauses included in municipal contracts

Available to all staff, it responds to the wishes to simplify these processes as much as possible.

On the other hand, the clause was included in the “Technical Instruction for the application of gender criteria in contracts aimed at the design and management of municipally owned facilities”, approved in 2023, ensuring that all municipal facilities incorporate this perspective.