Belgium expected to pass law to shorten work week to 4 days

Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The government in Belgium is considering a proposal that would shorten the full-time work week from five days to four, a potential change spurred by COVID-19.

Belgian labor minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne said the idea is partly rooted in workplace changes that occurred when the coronavirus pandemic began last year.

Full-time workers in Belgium would still work 38 to 40 hours per week, but the length of one work day would be expanded to 9 and a half hours in exchange for an extra day off.

Officials say the proposal, which is not expected to be mandatory, has widespread support among government leaders.

"In principle, we think it is good towards the freedom of the employee, but of course it has to be a choice of the employee," Flemish Green Party Chair Meyrem Almaci told VTM News.

The proposal could be formally unveiled as soon as this weekend, but the change likely wouldn't become law for several months.