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ARCHIVED - Spain gives financial backing to companies trialling 4-day work week
Businesses in Spain will receive 150,000 euros if they reduce the working day by 10%
The Spanish government is pushing ahead with a series of labour reforms designed to improve the work-life balance of its citizens and the latest change could be the most radical of the year: the four-day work week. The Ministry of Industry is this week launching a pilot project that will reward businesses which alter their employment structure to implement the new model.
The 24-month project will measure the impact of the transition on several aspects such as productivity and employee well-being. Over the next few days, small and medium-sized companies in the industrial sector will be able to apply for aid of up to 150,000 euros to take part in the scheme.
To qualify for the subsidy, businesses must reduce working hours by a minimum of 10% without cutting wages and they must commit to the programme for two years. The Ministry estimates that around 70 companies will take part.
The idea of a four-day work week is actually nothing new in Spain, since it’s being trialled in the Valencian Community for the past couple of years, but this is the first time it’s had national backing.
Likewise in Europe, countries like the United Kingdom and Iceland have employed similar strategies with the aim of improving worker welfare without jeopardising the profitability or productivity of businesses. And in neighbouring Portugal, just last month a very similar pilot project was launched that involves companies in the private sector and will soon be rolled out to public administrations.
Image: Pixabay
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