S-message: Want to see shorter working hours-but not legislate
Work time reduction is one of the hottest issues at the Social Democrats’ ongoing party congress in Gothenburg. Late on Thursday afternoon, Congress made a decision which means that S supports the social partners to negotiate a model for shorter working hours.
– It’s a historical decision. For the first time in several decades, S and the trade union movement agree that working hours should be shortened, says S-women’s chair Annika Strandhäll.
She has become a foreground figure for the issue after she led a working group within the party last year that came to a proposal for a gradual reduction in the statutory working hours. Target: 35 hours work week until 2035.
– We work per capita most in Europe. We have among the longest working life in Europe. Technology and agreements have led to large occupational groups having a much greater flexibility, while in large areas especially for groups that work scheduled has become just the opposite, she says.
Before the congress has dozens of motions demanded that S support a legislation on shortened working hours. But the party leadership is skeptical about drawing up the legislative card. Ardalan Shekarabi, labor market policy spokesperson, believes that this is an issue that should primarily be managed by the social partners and that is also the meaning of Thursday’s decision.
– It is important that we safeguard the Swedish model, but at the same time we take a stand for working hours reduction that we see a great need for, he says.
– This is a very clear message from S that working hours need to be shortened.
Annika Strandhäll is pleased with the proposal that has now been clubbed. The decision means that the issue should primarily be resolved by the parties – but may require regulations and efforts.
– The important thing is that there is now a consensus between the Social Democrats and LO that you want to see a shortening of working hours. This is about justice – and cuts through both gender and class. But not everyone is fully on the train. And it is above all the crack question that it should be even clearer that politics is prepared.
Ardalan Shekarabi points on the fact that LO recently conducted a comprehensive investigation that stands out the way for how the organization wants to proceed with the issue of shortening of working hours.
LO has congressional decisions on that drive the issue of shorter working hours And expects hard negotiations with Swedish business that is completely against the plans. Like S, L, like S, has been clear that the issue should be resolved the contract path, without completely closing the door to legislation.
LO chairman Johan Lindholm is happy and satisfied with the S-Congress’s decision.
– It creates pressure in the system. Here it is Sweden’s employees who require working hours reduction, so I feel very strengthened by this, he says.
Swedish Enterprise’s main Objection is that shorter working hours would lead to large costs for society that would have consequences in a number of areas. For example, Swedish Enterprise estimates that GDP would fall by just over eight percent if working hours are reduced to 35 hours a week.
– You count on this that hell reads the Bible. That’s what Swedish business usually does. They say we will go down, but they have said that every time we have lowered working hours and it has never become a reality, says Annika Strandhäll.
She would like S to election on the question of shortened working hours – but believes that much is won just by the debate being carried out at the congress.
– It feels like LO really stands and stomps and wants to get started with negotiations. If we get a good decision with us at the congress and a strong progress on this issue, maybe you should let the parties do it.
