The famous Spanish siesta could become extinct if a plan is approved to move the country's clocks back one hour to use Greenwich Mean Time.
Spain’s government wants to change its time zone to align with Britain amid hopes a clock change will boost citizens’ productivity.
Madrid was in the GMT zone until 1942 when Second World War dictator General Franco moved the clocks forward to match Nazi Germany's system.
But activists campaigning to change the clocks back claim the time zone causes a state of “permanent jet lag” for citizens.
They hope a change would boost Spain’s weak productivity and give Spanish people a better work-life balance, The Times reported.
The culture of the siesta means many workers are made to take lengthy lunch breaks but then do not finish work until around 7pm or 8pm – much later than in other European countries.
In general Spaniards also work longer hours than elsewhere in the EU.
The country’s labour minister, Fátima Báñez, said the government was working to change the time zone and the new working day would finish at 6pm.
It is likely the move will be backed by opposition parties and approved.
