#work week

"The Spanish government took the first legislative step on Tuesday towards reducing the working week from 40 to 37.5 hours without loss of pay, following an agreement with the unions but without the support of the country's main employers' organisations.

The bill, which the main unions CC.OO and UGT described as a historic measure that could potentially benefit 12 million workers, many of them women, according to union sources, was approved by the Council of Ministers - a move welcomed by Pedro Sánchez's government.

“Today is a day when it is worth being part of the Spanish government, and it is a historic day”, commented Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz.

"It is not just another economic variable, but a project for the country and a measure to modernise Spain," added Díaz, stressing that this is the first reduction in working hours in Spain in the last 40 years.

Meanwhile, the country's main employers' organisation, CEOE, rejected the text and called for a "gradual" reduction in working hours through collective bargaining, RTVE reported.

According to the organisation, small businesses and the self-employed will be most affected by the measure.

Sánchez's government argues that those who will benefit most are the workers who are not covered by collective agreements, who could be subject to a working day similar to that of the last 40 years.

Such situations are particularly prevalent in some regions of Spain, and mainly affect commerce, services, hospitality or trade.

The bill will now begin its journey through parliament, where Sánchez's government will have to secure the necessary support for it to become law - no easy task.

The Secretary of State for Employment, Joaquín Pérez Rey, said on Tuesday that the progressive executive was confident that the text would reach Parliament "at the end of February or the beginning of March.""

A Great Horned Owl peeks out from an old barn, takes one look at the world, 👀 and realizes it's Monday. Long pause. No blinking. Just the “I’m not impressed” look. 🙄 🥴

Summerland, B.C., is formalizing its four-day work week pilot program for some district staff and offering it to more departments. The 18-month trial began in July 2023 and gave municipal hall and aquatic centre staff in the Okanagan community the option to work full-time hours over four days rather than five. In a statement, Mayor Doug Holmes said the district is officially implementing the compressed work week, saying it "provides a positive work environment by giving employees a better work-life balance."

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