The Centre May Soon Allow Us To Have A Four-Day Work Week

The Union government will soon reportedly allow companies to choose a shorter, four-day work week, along with longer shifts. According to reports, the weekly 48-hour work limit will be mandatory, but employers will be able to deploy people on four, 12-hour workdays per week, or 10-hour days, or six and eight-hour days as well, according to labour secretary, Apurva Chandra.

¡°We are not forcing employees or employers. It gives flexibility. It¡¯s an enabling provision in sync with the changing work culture," Chandra said.

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According to the new provision which will be part of the labour code, employers will no longer be required to seek government permission to shift to a four or five-day working week if their employees approve of the arrangement.

Chandra added that employers will have to make sure that if they choose a four-day work week, there has to be a three-day break. If it is a five-day week, then two days of break before starting the next week has to be set in place.

Once the new labour code comes into play, experts believe that employers will have the freedom to choose to have 8 to 12 workdays depending on demand, industry and location.

Employees will reap the benefits of extra free time and companies will save cost on rentals.

¡°It will benefit sectors such as information technology and shared services. In the banking and financial services industry, 20-30% people can use the long working hours template for four or five days and enjoy a longer break. Profiles like human resources and finance verticals can easily adopt such a practice faster," said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of human resource firm Xpheno.

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¡°It shall also benefit a new generation of workers who value ¡®me time¡¯ and would prefer working long hours for fewer days to get an extra off. Besides, foreign firms will be the first to adopt it as this will reduce their real estate expenditure at one end and improve productivity of workers on the other. The COVID-19 work culture has given companies a proof of concept and its adoption won¡¯t be tough," said Karanth, a former managing director (India) of global staffing firm Kelly Services.

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However, some experts believe that this may lead to a day¡¯s work converting into two shifts instead of three, and reduce employment opportunities.

¡°Up to 12 hours of work plus commute time for four and five days, will be taxing on workers, especially in factory settings. The work-life balance may get impacted,¡° said K.R. Shyam Sundar, a labour economist.