Belgium is the new addition to the list of nations which is offering its workers a four-day work week. A part of a major Covid-era shake-up of labour laws Belgium PM Alexander De Croo announced the big news this week.
“The Covid period has forced us to work more flexibly – the labour market needs to adapt to that,” he said.
One of the biggest changes that comes is the right to turn off work devices and ignore work-related or boss’ messages after hours without fear of reprisal.
These steps aim to enhance the quality of life of Belgians and offer them better work-life balance.
These new steps will also allow employees to clock up 38 hours of work over four days instead of five, opening the possibility to permanent long weekends, or a day of parenting. And all this is being offered without any reduction in salary.
The new flexibility principle would also allow an employee to work a higher number of hours in one week to have a much lighter week the next.
But any request needs to be approved by the boss. It means the changes would not be implemented immediately. The unions will have their say on a draft bill before final amendments.
Among other measures, there will be individual employee access to training, and a test programme allowing night-work for employees in the e-commerce sector.
The UAE became the first country to transition to four-day work week officially in December 2021.
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