Belgium: Work 4 days a week instead of five.
Belgium began enforcing a new law, the rules are designed so that the parties forming the coalition government will have to agree on working life changes in June. Under this arrangement, employees can ask their employer to work four days a week. If the employee wants and agrees with the employer, he can complete the 38-hour work week in four days instead of five. Those who can take advantage of this opportunity can take three days off or one day off on weekends.
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The process can continue for up to six months with the user’s consent. The business can be restarted by mutual agreement at the end of the first six months.
Employers have the right to refuse such requests, but the refusal will be based on reason. Some non-governmental organizations have criticized this practice, drawing attention to the drawbacks of concentrating the work in four days.
Experts also say that workers may spend more time away from home and come home after work, which can have adverse effects. With this decision, Belgium became the first country in the European Union and the third in the world after Iceland and New Zealand to officially introduce a four-day work week for its employees.
