Just over a year ago, the then Finnish Social Democratic Prime Minister Sanna Marin promised that they would switch to a four-day week if she won the election.
Now it seems that the Social Democrats in Sweden want to take over the baton and make working time shortening – in one way or another – an election issue in Sweden in 2026. Among other things, they are looking at coming up with proposals that could deal with reduced weekly working hours, more holidays, a new ” family week” or more red days.
– We are very much inspired by the fact that so much is happening in this area in Europe and the rest of the world right now, says Riksdag member Annika Strandhäll (S), who leads the working group within the party that will come up with proposals in this area.
Survey shows: Half of the parties say no
In a survey that SVT sent out, it is clear that two of the parties want to legislate on shorter working hours: V and MP. C believes that the issue should lie with the social partners, while L, M, KD and SD say flatly no. At the moment, there is thus a clear majority for not changing the Working Hours Act. Among other things with reference to the fact that it would lead to an increased staff shortage and be expensive.
– We need more people who work. To then generalize and say that we should have a reduction in working hours. I don’t believe that, says the Liberals’ labor market policy spokesperson Camilla Mårtensen.
Annika Strandhäll, who emphasizes that they will only present a proposal in May, takes the criticism in stride:
– It’s the usual arguments that always come up. And I usually say that both extremes when discussing shorter working hours are wrong. Both those who say that a reduction in working hours would solve all the world’s problems with ill health in the labor market. But those who also constantly draw the economic argument and say that it is completely impossible, they are also wrong. Just look at how it looks in other countries in Europe.