Proposals that would effectively bring forward a four-day working week have cleared their first parliamentary hurdle. Labour MP Peter Dowd told the Commons it is “time for change” as he made the case for a shorter working week, insisting it would be good for the economy, the workers and the environment.
Under the plans, the official working week would be reduced from 48 to 32 hours and any work beyond that would have to be paid by employers as overtime at 1.5 times the worker’s ordinary rate of pay. The MP for Bootle was allowed to introduce his Working Time Regulations (Amendment) Bill despite Conservative former minister Sir Christopher Chope warning the measures would be “very hotly opposed by everybody on this side”.
The Bill will be considered further at second reading on Friday December 9 2022. Mr Dowd explained how according to Health and Safety Executive, 18 million workdays were lost in 2019-2020 as a result of “work related stress, depression, or anxiety”.
