The Belgian government has reached agreement on a major labor market reform package that gives employees the right to opt into a four-day workweek in a bid to provide employers and employees with greater flexibility and to get more people back to work.
The government is seeking to increase the percentage of employed individuals in the working age population from 71% currently to 80% in 2030.
Other key measures in the package include:
- Variable working pattern: Employees will be able to opt for a variable working pattern. This would mean that over a two-week period, they would work more hours one week and fewer hours the other week.
- The right to be “off-line”: The new rules guarantee employees the right to be off-line outside working hours. Employers with more than 20 employees will no longer be able to expect employees to read or answer e-mails or other messages sent outside working hours.
- Shift plan seven days in advance: Employees that work irregular shifts must be given their shift plan at least seven days in advance. Currently, employers are obliged to publish their employees' shift plans at least five days in advance.
- Training: Every company with at least 20 employees must draw up a training plan for its staff. In addition, employees will have a right to at least three days of training per year. This will increase to four days per year in 2023 and five days per year in 2024.
Outlook: As employers navigate a shifting environment caused by the pandemic, changes in technology, changes in worker preferences, the Great Resignation, and other developments, employers and governments are looking for creative ways to get people back to work. Belgium is the first country to institute a four-day workweek, and several others are launching or have launched pilot programs to test the concept. Meanwhile, in the U.S., Rep. Mark Takano has proposed a bill that would reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours, requiring overtime pay for work beyond that.