2 days ago
Major push for four-day working week in Australia without any loss of pay
Australian employers could be facing a serious movement from trade unions calling for a four-day work week.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) announced early on Wednesday that members will propose Australia move to the structure where appropriate.
For those sectors where it it is not possible, it suggests the of use specific alternatives.
Pay and conditions, including penalty rates, overtime and minimum staffing levels, would be protected to ensure a reduced work week doesn't result in a loss of pay.
The proposal is due to be taken to next week's Economic Reform Roundtable.
ACTU said it would argue workers deserve to benefit from productivity gains and technological advances, and reducing working hours is key to lifting living standards.
'Shorter working hours are good for both workers and employers,' ACTU president Michele O'Neil said.
'They deliver improved productivity and allow working people to live happier, healthier and more balanced lives.
'Unions want all Australians to benefit from higher productivity – not just those with money and power.'
The Albanese government has previously not ruled out the possibility of a four-day work week.
Major business groups have already submitted their proposals to the roundtable run by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, advocating for a corporate tax cut as a means to revive faltering productivity.
Speaking about the upcoming productivity roundtable, Mr Albanese said he wanted businesses, unions and civil society to put forward practical measures that have 'as broad a support as possible'.
'If you had a choice between, do you have less things with more support, or more things with less broad support, then I'm in favour of the former,' Albanese said.
'The danger in something like that is you just have a list (of things) that aren't progressed.'
Chalmers will convene the three-day roundtable from August 19 in Canberra, along with representatives from businesses, unions and community organisations.
Representatives from the Australian Council of Trade Unions have received four of 24 invitations to the upcoming economic reform roundtable.
The roundtable will also include delegates from the Business Council, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the Australian Industry Group, among others.
France introduced a four-day week in 2000 but there are concerns a similar policy in Australia could worsen the nation's productivity crisis.
Bad productivity from weaker output means costs are often passed on to consumers, leading to higher prices and inflationary pressures.
