Neighboring Brazil is leading the way in adopting a 4-day work week; Does fashion come like this?

Now is the time to follow the example of the United Kingdom and Portugal Chile to reduce Weekly working hours and pave the way for implementation 4 working day week.

This week, the neighboring country’s Congress reduced the workload from 45 hours per week to 40 hours per week, equivalent to the day in effect in Ecuador. In comparison, Brazilian law provides for 44 hours of work per week under the CLT regime.

In addition, the rule determines the maintenance of salary, that is, reducing travel without deduction of wages. The rule also provides an opportunity for negotiations between companies and employees to adopt a four-day week.

However, the measure is not expected to take immediate effect in the Andean country. The approved proposal still needs to be promulgated by President Gabriel Boric and will be implemented gradually over the next five years, after approval by the head of state.

How does it work?

Chile’s new labor law provides for a gradual reduction of one hour per year until 2028. In general, the view is that by the end of 2024 the weekly workload will decrease from 45 to 44 hours. .

By the end of 2025, workers will begin working 43 hours per week, reducing by one hour per year until the 40-hour week is implemented.

In turn, the amount of additional workload will also be reduced from 12 to 5 hours, and follows the implementation plan for the next five years.

Without this, with overtime in mind, a Chilean worker can work up to 52 hours a week, as long as he has more days off to make up for it.

What about Brazil?

Here, there is no prediction yet of national scale trials, with the help of the government. However, the initiative began to gain supporters after the reopening of the economy after a period of isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also, some companies have already adopted it Four day week – Among them, NovaHaus, Zee.Dog and Efí Bank (former Gerencianet). Details can be found in this special article, click here.

4-Day Week: European Examples

In February this year, the United Kingdom approved the adoption of a four-day working week after six months of trials and evidence of little impact on employee productivity.

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge, along with Boston College in the US, led the project in addition to contributions from non-profit organizations 4-Day Week Global Autonomy and 4-Day Week UK Campaign.

Portugal also made progress in discussions to reduce weekly working hours.

At the end of last year, the Portuguese government approved a program focused on improving quality and well-being, which, among other measures, provides a balance between the personal and professional lives of the country’s residents.

So far, the pilot tests are scheduled for a four-day week without any pay cut, which is due to start in June this year. Initially, only private companies will participate in the experiment and depending on the results, the experiments will be extended to the public sector.

Finally, the Portuguese government is expected to invest around 350 thousand euros in organizing the tests, but without any subsidy to the companies that adhere to the tests.