The global push for a four-day workweek gained momentum this month, with South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom (UK) joining the movement. They aim to pilot the idea that promises to enhance “work-life balance and productivity.”
In Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, workers from 50 companies will now have the option to choose a four-day workweek every two weeks or shorter hours each week. In Japan, where at least 50 people die from overwork annually, the focus is on improving work culture and addressing a labor shortage by advocating for a shorter workweek.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the new labor government is proposing a plan that allows workers to request a four-day workweek. These three countries are the latest to lean towards the idea since the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the traditional workweek and led to the widespread adoption of remote work.
According to Egyptian streets This newfound flexibility raised questions about the traditional nine-to-five, five-day workweek that has been dominant in the global economy for decades. Employers and employees have been exploring new possibilities, such as a shorter workweek, to assess whether it could offer more benefits to the work-life balance of workers around the world.
Belgium was the first European country to pass legislation allowing employees to work four days instead of five without a pay reduction. This legislation also provided workers with the flexibility to set their schedules.
Germany and Portugal have both followed suit, initiating trial programs to examine the impact of a shorter workweek. In the UK, prior to the government’s recent announcement, companies participating in a pilot program that was planning to make the four-day week permanent reported improvements in productivity, worker well-being, and positive effects on the environment and gender equality.
In Egypt, where work-life balance and mental health are often overlooked, the government is contemplating extending working hours instead of reducing them as part of its efforts to redesign the work environment in line with global changes and improve government performance quality. The Industrial Development Authority (IDA) announced in July an extension of the workweek, now running from Saturday to Thursday instead of the previous schedule from Sunday to Thursday.
