Hungarian political party aiming to introduce four-day workweek

Often touted as the key to a healthier work-life balance and a more fulfilling life, the idea of decreasing the number of workdays has been getting more and more popular around the world. Now, it might become a reality in Hungary as well.

The political party Momentum Movement has included the introduction of a four-day workweek in their program. Speaking to 168.hu, economist Márton Ilyés, responsible for the party’s economic policy, said that this would greatly benefit employees, in contrast with the current regulations, which strongly favour the employer’s interests. He cited two examples: one is the law on overtime work, allowing employers to impose 400 extra hours on workers annually, 250 of it unilaterally. The second one is the surprisingly low proportion of part-time jobs on the Hungarian labour market. Ilyés also added that

the usual 40-hour workweek is unsuitable for many, including students, parents with young children, and those who provide at-home care for a relative.

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Planned to take effect from 2030, the new, 32-hour workweek would be introduced gradually, first in the sector of public administration. The politician highlighted that, of course, it would not be possible to restructure employees’ timetables everywhere according to the same scheme. For instance, in the agricultural sector, there are more and less intensive periods, while automation is expected to influence the workload in a number of industries. In addition, those working white-collar and/or creative jobs might prefer having a flexible schedule and be significantly less productive with a fixed one.

According to Miklós Antal, a human ecologist and member of a research group studying the possibility and effects of reducing working hours in Europe,

a 32-hour workweek could become the norm on the continent by 2030.

He explained that this reduction could also take the form of having five-day workweeks but with more vacation days allotted so that the yearly average would come closer to four days spent working each week. Concerning the effects of such a measure on society, it could help right the balance between the working hours of men and women, said Antal. Since women in general do more unpaid work (e.g. household chores) than men, if men were to spend less time at their workplaces, they could help out more at home, lifting some of the burden off women’s shoulders.

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Source: 168.hu