Portugal: piloting the four-day working week

Portugal is set to launch a pilot experiment to study new work organizations, which include the four-day working week and the use of hybrid working models (in-presence combined with telework). The measure is included in the 2022 Finance Law. The text, adopted by the National Assembly, provides for the promotion of a ‘broad national debate and social consultation on new work organization models,’ the goal of which is to promote greater balance between work and personal and family life. Portugal’s current working hours are set at 40 hours a week, except for civil servants for whom a 1987 government-union agreement set the working week at 35 hours. Political parties and trade unions have made several frustrated attempts to secure the same number of working hours for both the public and private sectors. Several countries are currently experimenting with a four-day week, including Iceland, Japan, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, Spain (c.f. article No. 12763) and the United Kingdom will soon number among them (c.f. article No. 12866).