Labour Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin
By Shermain Bique-Charles
Email: [email protected]
A comprehensive study is expected to occur later this year to determine whether the country would benefit from transitioning to a four-day work week.
Presently, Antigua and Barbuda follow a five-day work week.
Labour Minister Steadroy Benjamin made the revelation while speaking on state media on Labour Day morning.
Benjamin expressed his concerns about whether this transition would be productive, but several union officials and other labour officials came forward in calling for it. Benjamin conceded, and a study will be conducted.
“We are going to have that done. We are going to look at it and check it out,” Benjamin said.
He clarified that this does not automatically mean that will change but if the study proves to produce greater productivity than a five-day, then “the government would be quite proper to look at the possibilities of the reduction”.
So are they saying that our children will only have 4-days in the classroom? This is going to be a disaster. Also people who are earning $350 per week, will know take home less pay. Cutting down the work hours per day from 8 – 5 to 8 – 4. Instead of an hour lunch break, let it be half-hour lunch break. Businesses that open 7-days a week will now have to pay overtime if an employee works five days a week.
I would really welcome that move. I would fully support working 10 hours a day 4 days a week. Think that ogres well for a lot of public servants
This might benefit the government but what about private sectors? Students? And other workers? A 4 day work week means less hours in class for students. Private sectors who run 5 days, some 6 have to do what? Especially those that only run from 8-5