First pilot project in all of Spain to test four-day work week It starts. The Ministry of Industry, chaired by Reyes Maroto, has published the order in which the competition opens so that SMEs in the industrial sector – and consultants specializing in this activity – can apply for assistance of up to 200,000 euros if they commit. applies the said method of organization for a period of two years. These are all keys to try.
Which companies can participate?
Only private sector companies operating in the industrial sector, which are SMEs, can apply to this pilot program. The government understands a company that owns nothing more than an SME. 250 workers and turnover not exceeding the annual 50 million €, as required by European regulations. Another requirement is that the company must be at least three years old to be able to participate and be up to date on tax payments.
This is the list of sectors of activity that can participate in the pilot. [haz clic aquí, página 23-24]
How long will employees stop working?
The instruction published by the Ministry of Industry, at least 10% working day to workers. The discount should be weekly, so it’s not worth continuing to work the same way and increasing the days off at the end of the year. In other words, if a worker has a 40-hour week shift (the most common), at least, 34 hours. The duration of the said working time reduction is at least two years from the time the company receives public assistance.
3 How many days off per week is a worker entitled to?
The program defined by the Ministry of Industry does not specify whether the reduction should be concentrated on one day a week or a little less work each day. Here each company must establish its own model in accordance with the legal representation of workers.
Will the company be able to pay its employees less?
No, the pilot rules state that it is strictly forbidden to reduce working time for a fee. salary drop. According to the BOE, “The ordinary working day carried out in previous periods shall in no case affect the wage rate which legally or customarily corresponds to 100% of the working day”.
Employees will work fewer hours but receive the same salary. This program differs from other initiatives in the private sector where companies offer reductions in working hours and salaries, although not proportionally. This is the case of Desigual or Telefónica, for example.
Will all workers participate in the same company?
No, companies that implement and meet the requirements may decide not to apply the reduction in working hours to their entire workforce. Either because they think this is not possible in certain positions, or because management has identified, among others, certain employees who will not adapt to the new model. Management must agree with the works council to initiate the pilot scheme. Another important condition is that participants have a full-time, indefinite contract.
However, there is a minimum number of people who must participate in the pilot if the company wishes to receive public assistance. In companies with 20 or less employees, at least one 30% of the workforce. In companies with between 21 and 249 payroll employees, at least 25% of them. Although only contract workers can participate Undefined Already full timefor the calculation of the minimum, all workers will be counted regardless of the contract they hold.
However, the Ministry of Industry requires that a minimum percentage of women participate in the pilot, as well as percentages within the company. In other words, in a company with 100 workers, where 50 men and 50 women work, but only 10 people participate in the pilot, at least five of them must be women.
What kind of assistance will the participating companies receive?
Ministry of Industry will give the most 200.000 € To each of the participating companies until the budget of 10 million euros for this pilot program is exhausted. Companies will submit a list of expenses that can be financed with up to 200,000 Euros, such as the proportional portion of the salary that the employee continues to receive but ceases to work. In other words, if the company reduces 4 hours per week, it can ask for the salary cost of these 4 hours per employee. For salary expenses, you cannot provide more than one financing. 150.000 € is in charge of helping.
The company is also required to enter into a contract with a consulting firm. counselor to help you develop productivity and better organize working hours to make this reduction in working hours sustainable. The same expense can be imposed on the State until the total aid of 200,000 Euros is exhausted.
How will the government decide who to give aid?
Applications from interested companies EOI FoundationIt is subordinate to the Ministry of Industry. The applications will be evaluated by a commission and the granting of the subsidy will be decided in competitive competition, meaning that the companies with the highest scores will be given priority and aid will be distributed to the successful ones until the budget is exhausted. worst chance of being out. score record.
Industry will evaluate applications based on the economic viability of the company, the economic viability of the proposed reduction of working hours, how much the working day has been reduced, the productivity gain they can demonstrate, and the detail and breakdown of how they will do it. implement the pilot program, among others.
How does the company measure productivity improvement?
Ministry of Industry, participating companies, productivity, but does not specify how. Here, each institution will create its own model and establish its own model. indicators to be evaluated periodically. In order to mark some results and desire to realize them.
When can applications be made?
The date of the call for help has not been determined yet, and the Ministry of Industry has contented itself with publishing its grounds in the Official State Gazette (BOE).