Campaigners will call for the introduction of government policies that would enable the UK to transition to a four-day working week at a cross-party event on Tuesday.
The 4 Day Week Campaign argues that the British public overwhelmingly wants reduced working hours, with more than two-thirds consistently supporting the move.
Its recommendations are set out in a Mini-Manifesto to be unveiled online, encouraging politicians to commit ahead of the next general election to implementing a four-day, 32-hour working week with no loss of pay for employees.
The event will include speakers from Labour, the Scottish National Party, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.
Labour has previously pledged support for a four-day working week, and senior members of the shadow cabinet have recently spoken out in favour of the initiative, including Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, Shadow Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband and Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry.
The suggested policies published in the Mini-Manifesto – a joint initiative with the New Economics Foundation and the think tanks Autonomy and Common Wealth – will be the cornerstone of the 4 Day Week Campaign's advocacy leading up to the election in 2024.
Key recommendations are:
- Lowering the maximum working week from 48 hours to 32 hours by the year 2030.
- Revising official flexible working guidelines to allow workers the right to request a four-day, 32-hour work week without wage deductions.
- Setting up a £100 million ($125.78 million) fund to facilitate private-sector companies' transition to a four-day, 32-hour work week.
- Launching a fully funded public sector pilot for the four-day work week.
- Establishing a Working Time Council comprised of trade unions, industry leaders and business leaders to co-ordinate policy and implementation of the shorter work week.
Increased popularity for the concept was seen in February when the world's largest pilot trial of a four-day working week, involving 61 companies and nearly 3,000 employees in the UK ended with nearly all participating companies continuing with the shorter hours without cutting pay.
Employers and employees favour change
The 4 Day Week Campaign's Mini-Manifesto highlights the concerning reality of British workers logging some of the longest full-time hours in Europe, yet the UK remains one of the least productive economies.
The document makes the case that a shorter work week could be mutually beneficial for employees and employers, contributing to improved well-being and productivity.
The Mini-Manifesto also posits that a four-day working week has broader societal benefits. It could potentially reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by up to 127 million tonnes annually, and may also help close the gender pay gap.
Public support for this change is considerable.
Polls conducted by the market research agency Survation indicated that voters in so-called “red wall” seats would be more likely to back a party that commits to implementing a four-day, 32-hour working week without any wage cuts.
“Red wall” is a term used in British politics to describe constituencies in the Midlands and Northern England which historically supported the Labour Party. At the 2019 general election, many of these constituencies switched to the Conservatives, with the media describing the red wall as having “turned blue”.
Some 66 per cent of these voters, including 75 per cent of women, said they supported the four-day week, while 44 per cent said they would be more likely to vote Conservative, even among 40 per cent of Labour voters, if the party committed to such a policy.
In a statement, the 4 Day Week Campaign's director Joe Ryle said Labour MPs would call on their party leader to back a shorter week at the launch event today.
"Keir Starmer has rightly talked up the importance of family life in Britain but he should back working families by giving them a four-day working week," Mr Ryle said.
“Too many parents in Britain are working long hours, often on low pay, and they deserve a break. In burnout Britain, a four-day week with no loss of pay would give parents more time to spend together with their family.”
Supporting the cause, Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle, commented: “With the roll-out of artificial intelligence on the horizon, a shorter working week is looking more and more inevitable.
“Greater productivity in the economy as a result of new technology must be passed back to workers in more free leisure time. A four-day week is the future of work and I urge my party to back these policies.”
Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South, argued that a four-day working week was urgently needed to address the widespread issues of overwork, burnout and poor mental health.
“Elections are often won by parties of the centre-left when they paint a vivid image of a brighter future,” Mr Lewis said.
“A four-day week, now more likely than ever, is a crucial part of this composition. I therefore urge Keir Starmer to back this policy to give people some hope and reassurance that the future will be better under a Labour government.”
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
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Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
