Some workers in Ireland will have a shorter week from this summer onwards as the Government is due to accept a recommendation that the working week returns to pre-2013 levels.
The Independent Body Examining Additional Working Hours, which is chaired by the Labour Relations Commission's Kieran Mulvey, called for the change on behalf of public sector workers.
It comes after the working week was extended in line with pay cuts during negotiations on the 2013 Haddington Road Agreement.
The deal saw public sector employees who were working 35 hours or less each week have their time increased to 37 hours and anyone working more than 35 hours was increased to 39.
The pay cuts introduced in 2013 were reversed over time, but the increased hours have yet to be amended.
According to SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, John King, the government's final decision will be confirmed this week.
He told Newstalk: “It was agreed with the government as a part of the negotiations of the existing public service agreement that they would put in place an independent body to examine this and make a report to the government.
“We understand that report has now gone to the government and hopefully then we will see the restoration of these hours to their pre-levels from July 1st this year.”
He expects that by reverting workers’ hours they will see an increase a "boost" within the sector.
“Actually, we think it was a counter-productive measure in that it would have served nearly to demotivate so we would be confident actually that this measure is going to give a good overall boost to the public service,” he said.
While most public sector employees will be included in the July 2022 rule change, hospital consultants and academics will not be.
