The reduction of the workweek is a measure that has long been debated in political, social, and economic circles. The goal is to reduce the number of hours spent working without affecting wages or productivity. Some countries, such as Finland, Sweden, and France, have already experimented with this idea, achieving positive results for both workers and companies.
What does reducing the workweek entail?
Reducing the workweek involves setting a legal limit on the maximum number of hours that can be worked per week, without this resulting in a loss of wages or labor rights.
According to the agreement between the PSOE and Sumar, the workday It would be gradually reduced, from the current 40 hours to 38.5 hours in 2024, and to 37.5 hours in 2025. This measure would affect 55% of the country's workers, who currently work more than 38.5 hours per week, according to the Ministry of Labor.
Reducing the workweek does not necessarily mean working fewer days, but rather allocate hours more efficiently and flexibly. For example, one could opt for a four-day workweek, with each day lasting 9.5 hours, or a five-day workweek, with each day lasting 7.5 hours. The schedule could also be adapted to the needs of each sector, company, or worker, provided that the established legal limit is respected.
What are the benefits of working fewer hours?
Proponents of reducing the workweek argue that this measure has multiple benefits, for workers, businesses, and society as a whole. Some of these benefits include:
Improving Workers' Health and Well-Being
Work fewer hours It reduces stress, fatigue, and the risk of accidents and illnesses, and improves sleep quality, diet, and physical activity. All of this leads to greater satisfaction, motivation, and self-esteem among employees, who can devote more time to their personal, family, and social lives.
Increases companies' productivity and competitiveness
Working fewer hours doesn't mean working less, but rather work better. When employees are more rested, focused, and happy, they perform better, make fewer mistakes, innovate more, and are more engaged with their tasks and goals. In addition, companies save on costs related to sick leave, employee turnover, absenteeism, and labor disputes, and improve their image and reputation.
Promotes job creation and gender equality
Work fewer hours It allows work to be distributed among more people, which helps create new jobs and reduce unemployment. It also makes it easier to balance work and family life, especially for women, who tend to shoulder more domestic and caregiving responsibilities. In this way, progress is being made toward greater equality of opportunity and rights between men and women.
Contribution to Sustainable Development and the Common Good
Working fewer hours means use fewer resources, generate less waste, and emit fewer greenhouse gases, which helps preserve the environment and combat climate change. In addition, with more free time, people can participate more actively in the cultural, educational, and civic life of their community, which strengthens social cohesion and democracy.
What challenges does the implementation of a reduced workweek entail?
Reducing the workweek is not an easy measure to implement, as it requires broad consensus and appropriate regulation. Some of the challenges involved in implementing it are:
- Resistance from business leaders and certain economic sectors. Many business owners view the reduction in the workweek with skepticism, as they fear it will negatively impact their profits, their competitiveness, and their ability to adapt to the market. Furthermore, some sectors—such as retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education—face difficulties in adjusting their schedules to meet the demands of their customers or users.
- The need for a clear and flexible legal framework. Reducing the workweek requires legal reform that establishes the limits, conditions, and safeguards for its implementation. However, this reform should not be rigid or uniform; rather, it should allow for some room for negotiation and adaptation to the characteristics of each sector, company, or worker, while always respecting labor rights and the voluntary consent of the parties involved.
- Coordination with Other Complementary Measures. Reducing the workweek cannot be a stand-alone measure; rather, it must be accompanied by other measures that reinforce its positive effects and offset its potential drawbacks. For example, we should improve workers’ training and skills, promote digitization and innovation in businesses, foster shared responsibility and gender equality, and strengthen social protection and progressive taxation.
What do experts and social partners think about reducing the workweek?
The reduction of the workweek is an issue that sparks diverse and conflicting opinions among experts and social partners. Some of these opinions are:
In favor
The major unions, UGT and CCOO, support the reduction of the workweek as a measure of social and economic progress, and urge its implementation during this legislative session. Likewise, some economists, such as Daniel Raventós and Vicenç Navarro, argue that reducing the workweek is a way to redistribute wealth, create jobs, and improve people’s quality of life.
Against
Business organizations, such as CEOE or CEPYME, They oppose the reduction of the workweek, considering it an unfeasible, unnecessary measure that is harmful to the economy and employment. Some economists, such as José Luis Feito and Juan Ramón Rallo, also criticize the reduction of the workweek as a form of government intervention that restricts market freedom, business freedom, and labor freedom, and that reduces competitiveness and growth.
In short, reducing the workweek is a measure that raises a paradigm shift in the way work and time are organized. This is a proposal that has both advantages and disadvantages, and that requires a a broad debate and appropriate regulation. Its goal is to improve workers' quality of life, business productivity, and the well-being of society, without sacrificing economic development
