Finland to introduce four-day work week and six-hour days

HELSINKI: Finland is introducing a four-day working week and six-hour days under a massive reform by the world’s youngest prime minister Sanna Marin.

The 34-year-old’s reform will let workers spend more time with family and enjoy their lives, culture and hobbies.

This follows a 2015 trial in Sweden that found working only six hours a day increased productivity. Results showed employees were much happier, wealthier and more productive.

In November last year, Microsoft Japan introduced a three-day weekend for employees and productivity went up by almost 40 percent. The current working week in Finland is eight hours per day, five days per week.

Prime Minister Marin said: “People deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture. “This could be the next step for us in working life.”

The mother-of-one leads a centre-left coalition with four other parties which are all headed by women, three of which are under 35.

The proposal was immediately welcomed by the Minister of Education, Li Andersson. She said: “It is important to allow Finnish citizens to work less.”It is not a question of governing with a feminine style but offering help and keeping promises to voters.”

Finland’s young prime minister, Sanna Marin, has promised stability and says she will continue to embrace social media.