Call for possible shift to a four-day working week wins the backing of SNP conference

SNP members have called on Scottish Government ministers to instigate a review that could bring about a four-day working week in the event of independence.

A motion at the party’s annual conference, this year being held virtually, passed by 1,136 votes to 70.

Contained in the resolution was a call for ministers to review working prac tices in Scotland, including a possible shift to working week.

The resolution states: “Conference calls on the Scottish Government to undertake a review into how working practices should be adapted to meet the needs of the fu tu re e conomy , including the possibility of a four- day working week and more support for people to work from home or closer to home, with a view to reform when Scotland gains full a shorter control of employment rights.”

Pa r t y memb e r Lee Robb made the case for a reduced working week while speaking in favour of the motion yesterday.

Employees who work a four-day week are “happier, healthier, more productive, less likely to take time off sick and less likely to be burned out by the end of the week,” he said.

He said: “Danish workers do around four hours per week less than we do in the UK yet their productivity is around 23% higher than ours.”

A report released by the Autonomy think tank earlier this year found around 500,000 jobs in the UK would be created as a result of a shift to the shorter working week in the public sector.

With workers retaining full pay despite reducing their hours, the initiative would cost £9 billion, Autonomy said.