The Discourse on 4-Day Work Week in Jakarta, These Countries Have Already Implemented It Earlier

Kapanlagi.com - The discourse regarding the implementation of a four-day work week is currently resonating in Jakarta! This interesting initiative has been proposed by the transition team of Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as a smart solution to face the challenges of the rainy and dry seasons that often disrupt community activities. With this policy, it is hoped that productivity can increase while also reducing the negative impacts of air pollution that frequently occurs during the dry season.

The trend of reducing workdays is actually not a new thing. Several countries such as Germany, Belgium, and Iceland have already implemented this system and they report encouraging results, including increased productivity and improved work-life balance for their employees. If Jakarta follows in their footsteps, there is great hope for work efficiency and a better quality of life for its citizens.

However, there are many who doubt the readiness of the infrastructure, supporting policies, and the long-term impacts of this discourse. How will it be implemented? What can we learn from the experiences of other countries?

Summarized from various sources by Kapanlagi.com on Thursday (23/1/2025), here is a list of countries that have successfully implemented the four-day work week policy.

1. Countries Implementing a 4-Day Work Week

1.Germany

Germany is testing a 4-day work policy involving 45 companies in a pilot project for six months starting from February 2024. The program aims to enhance productivity and work-life balance in a country that has an average weekly working hour of 34.2 hours, one of the lowest in Europe.

Most workers support this policy, with 71 percent expressing a desire to switch to a 4-day workweek, while the majority of employers deem it realistic to implement.

2.Belgium

Belgium officially adopted a 4-day workweek through legislation in 2023, allowing employees the option to complete their weekly working hours in 4 days without losing pay.

The goal of this policy is to create flexibility in a rigid labor market and facilitate a balance between personal life and work. However, challenges arise as daily working hours become longer, which some workers, especially in shift sectors, find exhausting.

3.Iceland

Iceland successfully implemented a 4-day workweek after a massive experiment involving 2,500 workers from various sectors. The experiment showed that productivity remained stable or even increased, while workers' life balance also improved.

This success has encouraged many sectors in Iceland to adopt this policy permanently, making it a model for global labor reform.

2. Countries Implementing a 4-Day Work Week

4. Spain

Spain has started a trial of a 4-day work week, particularly in the technology sector, to address post-pandemic challenges. The trial results show an increase in productivity and employee well-being, making it one of the innovative steps in the Spanish work environment.

However, its implementation in other sectors such as tourism and manufacturing faces significant challenges due to the need for physical presence and long working hours.

5. Japan

Japan has tested the 4-day work policy through large companies like Microsoft Japan, which reported a productivity increase of up to 40 percent. This policy is designed to reduce work fatigue or "karoshi," which has become a serious issue in the country.

Although the experimental results are promising, its adoption is still limited to modern companies, while traditional companies tend to maintain long working culture.

6. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The UAE officially implemented a 4.5-day work week in January 2022, where the public sector is off from Friday afternoon to Sunday. This policy aims to align work schedules with Western countries, increase productivity, and attract foreign investment.

While successful in the formal sector, this policy has not yet been fully realized in the informal sector, but it remains a new model in the Middle East.

3. Countries Implementing a 4-Day Work Week

7. Ireland

Ireland has launched a pilot project for a 4-day work policy involving various companies supported by the government. This program is designed to enhance productivity and work-life balance in the formal sector.

Initial results show a positive impact on employee job satisfaction, leading the government to consider broader implementation.

8. New Zealand

New Zealand has recorded the success of this policy through companies like Perpetual Guardian, which reported increased productivity and work-life balance for employees.

This experiment serves as an inspiration to expand the adoption of similar policies in other sectors. Support from the community and government further strengthens the prospects for national implementation of a 4-day work week.

9. Portugal

Portugal supports the trial of a 4-day work policy as part of a labor reform strategy. The program has received positive feedback from employees, who feel more satisfied with a more flexible work schedule. However, challenges arise in sectors that find it difficult to adjust workloads with the reduction in working days.

4. Countries Implementing a 4-Day Work Week

10. Scotland

Scotland launched a 4-day work week pilot program aimed at increasing national productivity and work-life balance.

This experiment is supported by the government and the private sector, which see opportunities to reduce stress levels and enhance work efficiency. Nevertheless, this policy is still in the early testing phase in several sectors.

11. Austria

Austria offers flexibility to employees to complete their weekly working hours in 4 days if agreed upon with the company.

This policy aims to improve work efficiency without reducing productivity. Although it has not been widely implemented, this approach is considered a positive step towards more flexible work reforms.

12. Finland

Finland has initiated discussions on a 4-day work week as part of a workforce welfare strategy, although it has not yet been fully implemented on a large scale. This proposal has received support from various sectors, especially those requiring high flexibility.

While still in the discussion phase, Finland is working to align this policy with national needs to create a balance between work and personal life.

5. What are the main benefits of a four-day workweek?

6. Is this policy suitable to be implemented in Jakarta?

7. Which countries have implemented a four-day work policy?

(kpl/rmt)