Spain Reconsiders The Four-Day Work Week
Spain News
Published: 09 March 2022 17:07 CET
With more and more of us now working from home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the debate on whether to offer Spanish workers the opportunity to work a four-day week has resurfaced once again.
Last year, the Spanish government discussed the possibility of running a pilot project which would see workers working 32 hours per week with no reduction in salary.
The plan was to introduce the project to around 200 companies, however, due to the pandemic, the plans were shelved.
However, this month, the Ministry of Industry is expected to disclose the details on the project and the assistance that Spanish companies can expect to receive with around 10 million Euros already put aside for the project in 2022.
Under the proposals, firms would be compensated in the form of a grant to cover the costs associated with staff members working fewer hours. This could be for training, to employ new staff or for the purchasing of office materials such as computer and IT equipment.
The idea behind the move is that having three days off would improve the health of workers, would give people more family time, would increase happiness and in turn, improve productivity.
However, the idea has caused concern among worker unions who feel that cramming more hours into fewer days could have the reverse effect and have a detrimental impact on workers' quality of life.
Balearic Islands could be at the forefront
With the debate on the four-day week emerging once again, it is the Balearic Islands that could be at the forefront of the trials.
During a plenary session of Parliament on Tuesday, the Balearic regional government put itself forward to be the first to test the pilot project.
The proposals which were put forward by Més per Mallorca were partially approved with the party’s leader Joan Mas declaring the move a “step forward”.
Mas urged the central government to "begin, as soon as possible, the study of the feasibility of the implementation in the Balearic Islands of the four-day week in the private companies and with special attention to services and hotels.”
In total there were 34 votes in favour of the project with 17 against.
PP and Vox voted against the move with El PI abstaining.
In the event that the study showed it to be viable, the pilot would be set up on the islands. The plan would, however, have to be agreed upon between the companies, agents and trade unions.
Source
https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2022/03/09/98335/mallorca-wants-set-example-with-companies-palma.html
https://www-diariodemallorca-es.translate.goog/mallorca/2022/03/09/islas-reconocen-participacion-regimen-franco-63598299.html
https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/spain-wants-reactivate-20220307175821-nt.html
