Dominican Republic to test four-day workweek for employees
The Dominican Republic is gearing up for an exciting six-month pilot program starting next month, which will introduce a four-day workweek for both public and private companies. Announced on January 15, this initiative will cut employees' work hours from 44 to 36 per week, without affecting their pay. Labor Minister Luis Miguel de Camps said in his public statement that the program "prioritizes people, improving health and wellbeing," and promotes a sustainable and environmentally friendly productivity.
Participating companies and monitoring process
Several companies are expected to join the pilot, including Latin American telecom giant Claro, power company EGE Haina, heavy equipment firm IMCA, and the government's national health insurance agency. A local university will be responsible for monitoring and analyzing the impact of this groundbreaking move, focusing on any health changes in workers and how their work-life balance is affected.
Belgium and the UK's four-day workweek initiatives
In February 2022, Belgium became the first European country to grant workers the right to complete a full workweek in four days instead of five without losing their salary. The United Kingdom followed in 2023, launching the world's largest trial of a four-day workweek. This six-month trial involved about 61 companies and 3,300 employees, with results examined by researchers at Cambridge and Oxford Universities and Boston College, as well as other advocacy groups.
Other countries exploring shorter workweeks
The Dominican Republic's initiative is in line with similar efforts by other countries. Chilean lawmakers approved a bill last year to reduce the work week from 45 to 40 hours. In the United States of America, several companies have also adopted a shorter work week. These changes come amid growing discussions about reducing work hours and increasing workplace flexibility, which gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Will four-day workweek work in India?
Accrding to a report by Forbes India, most governmental and non-governmental organizations follow a six-day workweek. Although many businesses in major cities and Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities have adopted the five-day workweek, smaller towns and cities find it strange. Many Indian professionals believe that if the country goes to a four-day workweek, Friday will see a backlog of work, which will continue into Monday, a hated day in any case. Employees will feel a lot more pressure to perform.
