Employers not keen on shortened work week proposal

The Faroese Employers’ Union does not support the motion from Javnaðarflokkurin (the Social Democrat Party) to shorten the work week.

In general, the union does not believe the industry will benefit from a shorter work week as the proposal, according to the union, seeks to shorten the work week without lowering wages accordingly.

In addition, the union argues, the Faroese 40-hour work week, which includes lunch breaks, is essentially the same as Denmark’s 37-hour week, which does not include lunch breaks.

Shortage of workers

The union also quotes the Economic Council as saying that the shortened work week proposal is a step in the wrong direction in terms of economic sustainability and that a prerequisite for fundamental changes in the job market is that the industry is given improved access to workers

Unemployment in the Faroes is at an all-time low, and employers are struggling to fill all positions.

A shorter work week, argues the union, will only compound this problem.

Translated by prosa.fo