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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
William Dunne

Ireland to join international campaign in push for four-day working week with same pay

Ireland is a small step closer in its push for a four-day working week - with the same pay.

The group, '4 Day Week Ireland,' is set to join an international campaign calling for a reduction in working hours.

It will launch the leg of a coalition of trade unions, businesses, environmentalists and women's groups - who hail the benefits of a shorter working week.

Director of campaigning at Forsa, John O'Connor has insisted this campaign is "better for everyone".

He said: "The international research and evidence would show there's actually no correlation between working long hours and achieving greater productivity.

"If you look at some of the most productive countries in Europe - [like] Denmark and the Netherlands - they have on average shorter working hours.

"If you look at the least productive - the UK and Greece - they have longer hours and lower productivity.

"The benefits are you have a healthier, a happier and a more a focused workforce."

Speaking on Thursday, he told Newstalk Breakfast: "What we're saying with this campaign is that we feel it's better for everyone.

Labour party's John McDonnell said that as a society, 'we should work to live, not live to work' (Stock) (Getty)

"We think there needs to be a gradual, steady, managed transition to a shorter working week for all workers in the public and private sector - with no loss of pay or productivity."

The move follows the British Labour Party's recent campaign for a 32-hour working week.

Its shadow chancellor John McDonnell said on Monday that as a society, "we should work to live, not live to work".

How cold does your office have to be before you can go home?
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