Four-day working week: Sturgeon urged to make major work shake-up – ‘She has no excuse!’

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The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) and other groups are calling on First Minister Ms Sturgeon to introduce a national subsidy for companies which switch to a 32-hour working week with no loss of pay. The STUC, along with Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie and other groups, have written to the SNP chief asking her to consider the move. 

Their letter says there was an opportunity for change as the pandemic “has thrown the world of work totally up in the air”.

A motion passed at the SNP conference in November also said an independent Scotland should consider a four-day working week as part of a wider review of working practices.

Joe Ryle, of the 4 Day Week Campaign, added: “A four-day week with no loss of pay is backed by a big majority of Scots, SNP members, the trade union movement and Scottish businesses, so Nicola Sturgeon has no excuses for not acting.

“Shorter working hours are the best way to share work more equally across the economy during a recession and would bring many other benefits such as improved mental health, a better work-life balance and a boost in productivity.

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“Nicola Sturgeon should listen to her own party members and set Scotland on the path to a four-day week.”

A campaign spokesman added: “The sudden shift to the vast majority of people working from home has opened people’s eyes to the fact that change can happen, and that it can happen very quickly when we want it to.

“Now let’s go for a four-day week.”

At the same time, an international coalition of politicians, trade union leaders, business leaders, academics and campaigners have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the move.

The letter, backed by Green MP Caroline Lucas and Labour MP Clive Lewis, says shorter working hours have been used during times of crisis and economic recession.

The letter added: “Across the world, people are reimagining a better future post-Covid-19 and overwhelmingly they want a better work-life balance.

“For the advancement of civilisation and the good society, now is the moment to seize the opportunity and move towards shorter working hours with no loss of pay.

“We need to get economies working to improve people’s lives, rather than people simply working to improve the economy.”

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Currently, a pilot scheme is being trailed in Spain where similar proposals have been backed by 50 million euro of government funding.

In response, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scotland’s businesses and workers have adapted to the Covid-related workplace challenges in ways that sustain their businesses and support employee welfare.

“Working practices are being changed by the pandemic and the Scottish Government is actively exploring the risks and benefits of delivering a shorter working week as part of our commitment to a well-being economy.

“This, and a range of other measures, will be considered after we have got Scotland through the immediate public health crisis.”

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