Closed petition We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales.

Moving to a four-day working week boosts productivity & workers’ wellbeing.
After successful trials of a shorter working week in Iceland – with no reduction in pay – governments in Scotland, Ireland & Spain are all devising their own four-day week pilots that are scheduled to begin next year. There's also serious moves towards a four-day week taking place in Belgium, New Zealand, Germany & Japan.
We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales.

More details

When Microsoft trialled a four-day week with no loss of pay in their Japan office, productivity went up by 40%. (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/04/microsoft-japan-four-day-work-week-productivity)
According to the Health & Safety Executive, 55% of all sick days taken last year were a direct result of work-related stress, depression or anxiety. Moving to a four-day week would dramatically reduce mental health issues in Wales.

A study by the environmental organisation Platform London found that the introduction of a four-day week with no loss of pay would shrink the UK’s carbon emissions by 127m tonnes, a reduction of more than 20%. (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/four-day-working-week-would-slash-uk-carbon-footprint-report)

Four-day week 'an overwhelming success' in Iceland https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57724779

This petition is now under consideration by the Petitions Committee

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The Senedd debated this topic

This topic was debated on 10 May 2023

Watch the petition ‘We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales.’ being debated

The report of the Petitions Committee, ‘From Five to Four?’ was debated by the Senedd in Plenary on 10 May 2023.

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Committee Report

The Petitions Committee published its report on Petition P-06-1247 Support trials of a four-day week in Wales on 24 January 2023: https://senedd.wales/media/4k2f3as5/cr-ld15618-e.pdf.

The Welsh Government response to the Committee report was published on 10 March 2023: https://senedd.wales/media/u31fwyzz/gen-ld15726-e.pdf.