Spain to test cut in work hours to boost productivity | Inquirer ºÚÁÏÉç

ºÚÁÏÉç

Spain to test cut in work hours to boost productivity

/ 05:34 AM December 18, 2022

Passengers at a train station in Spain. STORY: Spain to test cut in work hours to boost productivity

Spain to test cut in work hours to boost companies’ productivity. (REUTERS FILE PHOTO)

MADRID — Spain has launched a pilot project to help small and medium-scale industrial companies cut the work week by at least half a day without denting salaries in an attempt to boost productivity.

The companies requesting the aid must design ways to increase productivity that compensate for wage cost overruns, the Industry Ministry said in a press release outlining the 10-million-euro ($10.63-million) plan on Friday.

Article continues after this advertisement

Gaining traction

These improvements should be implemented within one year, while the company must maintain the program for at least two years.

FEATURED STORIES

Debate over the so-called Scandinavian model, which holds that productivity will rise if working hours are dropped, is not new, but it gained traction during the COVID-19 crisis among companies, the public sector and politicians.

The government, in the first year of the project, will partly finance wage costs of companies that reduce working hours, and will also help fund training and the cost of measures to improve productivity.

Article continues after this advertisement

Share of workforce

Only workers with full-time permanent contract can be a part of the program, and women should be represented according to their share of a company’s workforce.

Article continues after this advertisement

At least 30 percent of workers must reduce their hours if a company employs up to 20 of them.

Article continues after this advertisement

If a company has between 21 and 249 employees, at least 25 percent of its workers must be included in the plan.

Spanish telecom giant Telefonica has offered its employees the opportunity to work four days a week—extending a pilot program that initially involved about 150 workers who, in exchange, took a 12-percent pay cut.

RELATED STORIES

NEDA chief: Why not try four-day workweek again?

DOE backs four-day workweek, work-from-home setup to reduce fuel use

A four-day workweek? Belgium takes the plunge

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

EDITORS' PICK
usa
sports
sports
lifestyle
technology
entertainment
TAGS:

No tags found for this post.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the and acknowledge that I have read the .

© Copyright 1997-2024 ºÚÁÏÉç | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies.