The bill that reduces the working day from 45 to 40 hours per week was voted in Congress, and from PROPYME and other trade organizations in the sector we observe positively, considering the benefits it entails for the country context; but that nevertheless presents certain flats between the same smaller companies.
Although 2022 has been a particularly hard year for MSMEs, given the levels of inflation, crime, minimum wage increase, a tax reform in process and a country and international economic situation of significant instability, we understand that the bill that reduces working hours is a socially pending issue for the national scenario in order to improve coexistence between companies, their work teams and society in general. In the same context, in previous years phrases such as “it is not good to make changes now, because we are good” or “it is not good to make changes now, because things are wrong” were heard, then the question arises of when is the right time to make changes?
As a preamble to the subject, it is good to highlight what employment means. As our Labour Code states, “it is a convention by which the employer and the worker mutually oblige each other to provide personal services under the dependence and subordination of the former and the latter to pay a certain remuneration for these services”.
The above is of relevance to specify, since sometimes we hear that “the work is given”, as if it were a gift or a favor; And the truth is that we are talking about a social pact that contributes to both parties, since without companies there are no workers and without workers it would not be possible to make companies.
Within this concept is inscribed the reduction of the working day to 40 hours per week, which is based on international experiences that show that with a better quality of life of workers advances in the productivity of companies. That is, everyone wins.
From our organization we contribute being an active part of the discussion of the bill before the Executive, Parliament and the different working groups that led to the debate of the government initiative, which if implemented will have a gradualness of 5 years, in addition to considering an accompaniment for the Mipes during this process. It is important to emphasize that our contribution to the conversation was always exposed with a raised look from our adherent companies, which also makes it possible for us to make present to the authority, that elements such as: considering the work culture in regions, its various productive areas, Gradualness and adaptability; They must be analyzed with great caution to protect formal employment, the productivity of companies and that -in the end- the new labor context does not become a boomerang that threatens the objectives pursued in the 40 hours project.
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The content expressed in this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.
