Looking at the perspectives for development of Latvia’s economy, Latvian Chamber for Commerce and Industry (LTRK) does not approve of switching to a four-day work week, according to LTRK representatives.
The organisation notes that if people want to live in a wealthy country, there are only two options – work more or work more productively. Currently Latvia’s work productivity level is about 70% of the average in the EU.
«With such a productivity index we would work even less and Latvia’s welfare level would fall behind the average EU level even more,» explains LTRK.
At the same time, the organisation notes that on an individual level the wish for a four-day work week is understandable. However, Latvia cannot afford it on a national level.
«Perhaps once Latvia has become a wealthy country, we might consider this idea,» LTRK notes.
As previously reported, a signature collection campaign has started on manabalss.lv in favour of transitioning to a four-day work week. The author of this initiative Denis Meļehovs said it can be done by amending Section 131 of the Labour Law in relation to work time.
According to him, by increasing free time, the level of satisfaction among working people will increase without reducing their work efficiency. The author of the initiative says people will have more free time for studies and self-improvement, which will have a positive effect on the economy.
On 2019 Odsherred Municipality in Denmark adopted a four-day work week for a three-year period, making Friday a weekend for 300 workers.
Dienas Bizness wrote that in Iceland people who participated in shortened work weeks (35-36 hours a week) in 2015-2019 were paid the same amount as the people who worked a full 40-hour work week. Many people decided to work less hours as a result. According to researchers from Iceland, the productivity of those people remained the same or even increased in some cases.