Finnish workers want a shorter working hours
27. March 2023More than 60 percent of employees consider shorter working hours to be desirable
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions published an opinion poll, according to which 64 percent of Finnish wage earners consider shortening working hours to be a worthwhile goal in the long term. SAK chairman Jarkko Eloranta said that there is also a willingness to experiment with working hours. According to a survey conducted by Kantar Public, 57 percent of Finnish wage earners support the experiment. Especially women (63%) felt this was a good idea.
"It is clear that reconciliation of work and family needs to be facilitated. It would help if working time practices could be modified to fit your life situation better than at present. This affects people's ability to cope in everyday life and at work," Jarkko Eloranta said.
Jarkko Eloranta, who speaking at a seminar in Helsinki dealing with the results of Great Britain's extensive four-day work week experiment, found the international and domestic experiences encouraging. He insisted that an extensive and thorough working time experiment be included in the next government program.
Labor Minister Tuula Haatainen: We need an experiment
Labor Minister Tuula Haatainen spoke at the seminar about the aging of the population and coping with a workforce of all ages. In particular, he expressed his concern about young people and their ability to cope.
"We still need more experimentation and research so that we can develop working life. I have asked the civil service to find out alternatives on how experiments in shortening working hours could be carried out in the next term of office," Haatainen said.