week 4 business days actually reality in some countries of the world And even in some Brazilian companies. The debate about reducing working hours is gaining steam around the world and research has shown several advantages in the new paradigm.
The United Kingdom, Belgium and Scotland, as well as other countries in Europe, are some of the countries where companies are adopting the scale of 4 working days versus 3 rest per week. Among the benefits resulting from this measure Increasing productivity and income, increasing workers’ well-being and quality of life, and reducing unemployment and absenteeismas well as helping protect the environment, as fewer work days mean less movement and less transportation use.
In the UK, for example, a survey was conducted from July to December 2022 with more than 60 companies from various sectors that have adopted reduced weekly working hours and the results are surprising: 91% of companies want to keep a 4-day week.
Chile is another country Recently adopted reduced workload. This measure, after a large mobilization of the population, was approved by Congress and limited the time from 45 to 40 hours a week, without prejudice to salary. Moreover, it was foreseen Possibility to work 4 days and rest 3Unlike the old chapter which had a 5 day work week.
Is he in Brazil?
In Brazil, the 4-day workweek, for the time being, only exists as a test in some companies that want to experiment with the model. To be included in the legislation, the measure must be approved by the National Congress, and in that sense, the Minister of Labor and Employment in Lula’s governmentAnd Louise Marinohe proposes that society, together with the central unions, mobilize for dialogue and put pressure on the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on this issue, similar to what happened in Chile.
In an interview with forum and autonomous vehicles organized by the Centro de Estudos da Mídia Alternativa Barão de Itararé, the Minister stated that he finds it “difficult” for Brazil to adopt a 4-day work week in the short term, but Defend the idea He stated that it was the government’s duty to “raise” this debate so that it would move society and engage the National Congress.
“I tend to be very vocal in my opinion and sometimes read a situation and not mine. I find it very difficult [adotar a semana de 4 dias] short term. Now, I’ve been playing with the central unions: Won’t the central come back to talk about working hours? You have to guide you to reduce working hours, it is clear that you have to dialogue with Parliament because there is space, and there is a circle to make this agreement. The government should stimulate and provoke this debate, But he will not do it alone, there is no point in wanting to create discord in Congress. It takes a lot of mobilization and a lot of struggle. Let’s organize the process. I am, honestly, totally in favor of reducing working hours, and I think we need to cut back. I don’t know if the week is 4 days right away. We have a maximum of 44 hours of work, and we have many economic activities with a 40-hour week,” Marino analyzes.
According to the minister, it is “It is completely quiet, feasible and affordable for the Brazilian economy to reduce working hours to 40 hours a week”. Marinho, a former union leader, recalls that he raised the issue in 2004, but the discussion had not progressed and now it was time to resume discussion on the proposal.
“I think central forums should fight, propose, debate with Congress. There are people from government against and there are people for. Therefore, it is democratic to have such a debate. The eyes that the centrals are shooting [a discussão]. In 2004, she led a campaign to reduce working hours, income tax, and the minimum wage. We built income tax and minimum wage and the trip didn’t work out. It’s time for the central centers to really direct this topic, for us to raise this debate in Congress, so that it reflects the economic sectors. You hold seminars, contact specialists, universities, and the media. A shorter trip can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and improve production quality. Finally, what is the effect of reducing working hours? I’m looking forward to this discussion coming up, because I haven’t felt it yet. At some point, the discussion about reducing working hours has to come, that’s very healthy, in my view,” he notes
Marinho even cites Chile as an example and cements his support for the idea of shortening the working day in a process that could lead to the long-awaited 4-day week.
Chile has just reduced working hours to 40 hours a week. The Brazilian economy is fully capable of doing this. We have to encourage and begin this process of thinking about the number of possible hours in a week, fewer days for the worker, not necessarily for the economic activity. Economic activity works 7 days a week, but a worker can work 3, 4, 5 days, it depends on how you think about economic activity,” he says.
New technologies and reduced hours
The minister also argues that new technologies It must be “taken over” by society in order to facilitate work and not generate more burden and exploitation, as was observed with the phenomenon of “inflationrelated to the workers of transportation and delivery applications companies.
“Society must catch up with new technologies (…) There are people who work more with new technologies. If it relies on capital, it turns everyone into a slave to technology and will exploit the intelligence of the people in its service and accumulate more and more. This leads to a deep process of increasing poverty and hunger in the world. Hunger in the world is not due to a lack of wealth, but to a lack of a general policy for the distribution of income, ”says Louise Marino.
In this sense, the Minister sets the limit on the working day As one way to increase the distribution of incomeas that could mean more people working.
He concludes, “Reducing your hours is one way. You have more people working to survive your effort, your workforce.”
Currently, there is 2 projects in the National Congress that deal with the subject. In 1997, Representative Paulo Paim (PT-RS) introduced a proposal to limit work to six hours a day or 30 hours a week without a pay cut. The justification was to ensure the quality of life of employees and to optimize the use of company resources. The project has not progressed in processing and, since 2019, is awaiting approval by the Social Security and Family Commission.
The project prepared by Representative Reginaldo Lopez (PT-MG), which proposes a limit of 36 hours per week, has been awaiting appointment of rapporteur to the Constitution and Justice Commission since 2019.
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