2025-03-17
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The Greens have announced their policy to pave the way for a 4-day work week through nationwide trials across a range of industries coordinated by a new National Institute for the Four Day Work Week. The policy backs in a commitment by the Greens to work towards shorter working hours with no loss of pay that will help improve our workplaces and support healthier lives. Lines attributable to Senator Barbara Pocock: “Ordinary Australians have been working hard for decades and not seeing a fair share of the results. A 4-day week will share more fairly the products of their labour. “Productivity gains over the past two decades have fed into higher profits while real wages have stagnated. A shorter working week alleviates the burden of stress and burn-out. International trials have repeatedly shown productivity increases and a healthier happier workforce result from shorter working hours. “The Greens policy will initiate a series of national trials in different industries where workers work 80% of their normal hours while maintaining 100% of pay. It’s a win-win for everybody. “We led the world in the movement to shorter working hours going back to the stonemasons strike in Melbourne in 1856 when they won the 8-hour day. Now, in the 21st century we lag behind many other countries where 4-day week trials are underway. “The UK, Canada, Germany and Spain are leading the way with large scale trials involving thousands of workers. In the UK 92% of employers participating have reported they will continue the 4 day week after the trial ends. It’s time for Australia to move its workplaces into the 21st century and create a pathway for shorter hours. “The Greens will support a 4 day work week test case through the Fair Work Commission aiming to reduce working hours with no loss of pay. “Our society is changing, more women and carers are at work, yet we are constrained by archaic labour laws that see the fruits of our efforts swallowed up in profits for bosses and shareholders. This is about justice for working people. We work to live not live to work. “It's more than 40 years since the last reduction in working hours in 1981. The benefits in mental and physical health from shorter hours are well documented and the impact on women’s workforce participation will be significant as shorter hours assist those with caring responsibility. If men work less hours they are more likely to pick up their kids from school and pick up the vacuum cleaner at home. “This is a policy that’s good for everyone. It can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve recruitment and retention and give employees more time to manage their home life. This change will allow workers to create a working week that works for them.” |