Give Us a Three-Day Weekend at the Beach, Every Week
A century ago, the Barcelona general strike made Spain one of the first countries in the world to introduce the eight-hour working day. Now, under pressure from the Left, the Spanish government is trialing a four-day week, with no loss of pay for workers.
A shorter workweek would improve upon workers’ physical and mental well-being. (Ferran Feixas / Unsplash)
Recent trials of a four-day week in Iceland have shown the merits of a shorter working week. Working less — without loss of pay — makes us less stressed and with more time to do what we really want. The effects on our behavior could make this a key measure in stopping climate change — and even boost productivity. Thanks to a proposal from the left-wing Más País, Spain is now set to be the next country to conduct trials of a thirty-two-hour or four-day week.
Héctor Tejero, who is political coordinator for Más País, spoke to Àngel Ferrero about his party’s proposal for a shorter working week, and how it can turn from a pilot scheme into the reality for most workers.
Àngel Ferrero
In January, your group in the Spanish parliament published its bill for a pilot scheme cutting the working week to thirty-two hours, or four days instead of five. What exactly does this involve — and what is the current status of this project?
Héctor Tejero
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