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Several countries in the Americas, especially Chile and Colombia, are considering to reform by law the extension of the working day, which in some places, for example in
Several countries in the Americas, especially Chile and Colombia, are considering to reform by law the extension of the working day, which in some places, for example in Mexico, comes to a grueling nine or ten hours a day.
Especially in large capitals, where most of the population is concentrated, where after eight or nine working hours there is an hour or two left for food, and usually two more to get to work and get home.
If we add to this the need to sleep for at least six hoursas health experts recommend, the result is that for American workers only six hours left help children with homework, share with partners, go to the supermarket, cook, go to the movies, or engage in any other personal or recreational activity.
The example of Mexico is indicative and representative.one of the countries in the world where more hours are worked per year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
According to your data Mexicans work 2124 hours a year above Costa Rica (1913), Russia (1874) and Japan (1598).
The same number in Colombia, Brazil, Peru and Argentina, where, as in Mexico, the working day is 48 hours a week and usually only one day offusually on Sunday.
Low wages, inflation and a widespread economic crisis mean many must come to terms two professions and many others enter the black market, where experts agree that “Latin America has become new China.
different policies
While there is a growing trend in Europe towards streamlining schedules and reducing working hours, reaction in the Americas is different: Only Chile and the United States seem to be working strongly in the same direction.
Last week, the Chilean Senate Finance Committee approved a pioneering project in the region aimed at reduce weekly work week to 40 hoursan initiative presented by the 2017 Communist Party that will be voted on in the plenary this week.
A project that has received great support from citizens and the support of business associations after a long process of dialogue, gradual: provides for an initial reduction in working hours from 45 to 44 hours per week during the first year of the law.
The second reduction, considered from the third course, will be up to 42 hours, and the goal is 40 hours. This will be achieved in the fifth year of operation.
Increase productivity and quality of life
In the United States, the most promising One of the attempts to achieve a shorter work week is being made in the state of Maryland.
There, two Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill last January proposing tax incentives companies approve and implement 32-hour work week without pay cuts.
“I think we will see more and more examples, especially in the most progressive states like California, New York or Illinois, especially if the Maryland proposal is approved in the coming months, ”he assured. EFE Christopher Case is director of the Department of Management at the George Washington University School of Business in Washington, DC.
For Kayes, all indicators are on four day work week point to improved performance, but also to the quality of life from workers.
However, the expert admits, it will be difficult to enact any legislation at the national level, since federal workweek laws they have not changed since the 1930swhen the 40-hour limit was approved.
“What will happen is that companies that want to be competitiveness in attracting employees, and to keep them, this will be one of the tools they can use,” he ventured.
gradual reduction
Also in Colombia, President Gustavo Petro has among his priorities labor reform submitted to Congress last Thursday, by which it intends to establish 42 hour work week and extend the night schedule from 9:00 to 12:00, from 18:00 to 6:00.
The reform, which according to labor minister Gloria Ramirez, aims to put no job security, temporary contracts and informality on platforms like Uber and Rappi.
As in Chile, it will be gradual: during the first year, the work week will be reduced by one hour, and from the fourth year of entry into force of the law they will cut two hours a year until they reach 42 hours a week.
In Argentina, the convenience of job cuts has been discussed for years, only in 2022. four bills are awaiting consideration in Parliament, but progress has been slow.
Driven by Peronism, trade unions and leftist movements, they propose reduce workload (6 hours per day and 36 per week, 6 hours per day and 30 per week or 8 hours per day and 40 per week) no pay cut limit overtime or “extra” hours.
These projects are based on the need give workers a better quality of lifewith psychophysical and social conditions, which, in turn, contribute to the improvement of the productivity of companies.
They also point to a positive effect on creation of jobs through the redistribution of labor which means shorter working hours. And, on the other hand, they point to the need to update the legislative framework.
According to official data for the third quarter of 2022 28.8% of Argentines are overemployed. when working more than 45 hours per week, while 11.9% are part-time (work less than 35 hours per week).
Although unemployment fell to 7.1% in the third quarter of 2022, the Argentine labor market is in serious trouble: 37.4% of employees work informally, about a quarter of employees work for their own account and 40% of the employed earn less than the minimum wage.
Immobilism in Mexico, Brazil and Peru
In Mexico the question He did not arouse the interest of the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrado.r, which focused its agenda on raising the minimum wage, union democracy, and a ban on subcontracting, while Congress focused on reform on double leave.
The latest legislative initiative on working time, not yet discussed, was introduced by MP José Luis Báez Guerrero of the National Action Party (PAN), who proposed establishing that for every four and a half days of work, a worker should receive two and a half days of rest.
The legislator also recalled that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), work stress which can lead to overwork or lack of holidays in Mexico losses from 4% to 6% of the national economy.
In Brazil the idea does not exist on the agenda of conservative President Jair Bolsonaro, but for the moment he does not seem to have undue weight on the agenda of progressive Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva either.
In 2017, the labor reform was approved, whichmissed work days for 12 consecutive hours36 hours of rest and a maximum of 220 hours per month if there is an agreement between employer and employee.
Lula wants repeal some items of the labor reform 2017, but not one that affects the working day itself.
In Peru, it is estimated that between 75% and 80% of workers informalunder which they are not covered by any kind of legal protection, and suffer employer abusewhich sets the days.
This situation makes human trafficking being a daily evil in Peru.
Over 2,600 Peruvians were victims of human trafficking in 2021, of which 83% are women, 25% are minors.but there were only 72 convictions in the judiciary that year, according to CHS Alternativo.
(Information EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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