Spain to trial four-day working week in pilot project

Earlier this year, the small leftwing Más País party announced that the government had accepted its proposal to pilot the idea. Talks have since been held, with the next meeting expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Iñigo Errejón of Más País, tweeted: “With the four-day work week (32 hours), we’re launching into the real debate of our times. It’s an idea whose time has come.”

The premise of a four-day working week has been gradually gaining traction around the world. The change has been hailed as a means to increase productivity levels, improve the mental health of employees and counter climate change. The idea has taken on new significance as the coronavirus pandemic heightens issues around mental health, burnout and work-life balance.

As a result of increased interest in a four-day working week, Leftwing parties in Spain have seized on the idea. Iñigo Errejón said: “Spain is one of the countries where workers put in more hours than the European average. But we’re not among the most productive countries. I maintain that working more hours does not mean working better.”

While the exact details of the pilot will be worked out with the government, his party has proposed a three-year, €50m (£43m) project that would allow companies to trial reduced hours with minimal risk.

The costs of a company’s move into the four-day week, for example, could be covered at 100% the first year, 50% the second year and 33 per cent the third year, The Guardian reports.

Héctor Tejero of Más País, said: “With these figures, we calculate that we could have around 200 companies participate, with a total of anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 workers. The only red lines are that we want to see a true reduction of working hours and no loss of salary or jobs.”