Spain reduces working hours to the same salary: Italy cannot afford it, that’s why

Final step of the Spanish government on one of the main points of its political program: the reduction of the accommodation of the weekly hours of ordinary work from 40 to 37.5 hours without lowering the wages, a measure approved by the Council of Ministers. « Today we help to do who people are a little happier, » said vice -premier and work minister, Yolanda Diazsaying that they think, for example, of all people « who can hardly be with their children simply because they don’t have time ». The rule also includes a digital « register » to keep the calculation effectively of the actual hours of work, as well as the right to the « digital disconnection » of employees outside the professional hours.

The opposition of entrepreneurs

Technically, the approved measure is a « bill », which will now begin the parliamentary process. At the moment, however, from the political groups represented, however, guarantees for sufficient support for the rule, already opposed, during the long phase of public debate which has been the subject in recent months, by the main associations of entrepreneurs, did not come to the government.

The productivity node

In Italy the discussion on the reduction of working hours is stalled. In 2023 some companies have taken the step with business agreements: this is the case of Intesa Sanpaolo, Lamborghini, Luxottica. Each group with different formulas designed to be measured. The bank contract He then provided for the reduction of the 30 -minute weekly time. But the reduction of working hours to the same salary is not imposing itself as a solution for everyone. And the reason is very simple: productivity, that is, the product for each time worked, in Italy increases in slow motion, less than the other European countries. And to be able to afford a reduction in working hours for the same salary, an increase in productivity would be needed.

And that of wages

But that’s not just this. To row against the reduction of working hours there is also the reduction of real wages, today of 8% lower than 2021. If wages are low and it is difficult to get to the end of the month, people tend to ask rather for a few hours of extraordinary to round off. Not to mention the reduced times. The involuntary part time are about 60%: also in this case employees (including women, despite the major free workloads at home) ask to work more. By summarizing the sums: the reduction of working hours to the same salary must be able to afford it. It is essential to have, starting, high productivity and good wages. And the Spaniards on this in recent years have made progress.