Four-Day Work Week Approved in Belgium

In December 2021, the UAE became the first country in the world to shift to a four-day workweek.

Inspired by the move, Belgium has also allowed its employees to work for four days a week, while also giving them the right to disconnect after work hours.

Those who want to subscribe to the new work regime will have to work 10 hours a day instead of the usual eight. The pay shall remain unchanged.

According to Euronews.com, Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo told a press conference: “We have experienced two difficult years. With this agreement, we set a beacon for an economy that is more innovative, sustainable, and digital. The aim is to be able to make people and businesses stronger”.

The draft reform package agreed by the country’s will means that employees will have the right to request a four-day week and the employer must give solid reasons for refusal.

Over a 6 month period, employees will trial the 4 day work week and if they prefer they can return to a five-day week with no negative consequences.

The changes won’t be implemented immediately, but are expected to come into effect by the middle of the year.

After the UAE and Belgium, Spain, Scotland and Japan too have plans to permanently shift to four-day work-week. Scotland had launched a trial four-day workweek in September last year, which was a success.

Would you like to see this introduced here in the Czech Republic?