7. Plaid Cymru Debate: A four-day working week

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:11 pm on 22 September 2021.

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Photo of Peredur Owen Griffiths Peredur Owen Griffiths Plaid Cymru 5:11, 22 September 2021

'a brave and progressive approach to policy making and long-term thinking that puts diversity, the well-being economy, tackling emissions and biodiversity loss, and life-long learning at the forefront of our minds.'

On the subject of the future generations commissioner, I'm aware of work by her office, in partnership with the think tank Autonomy, relating to a four-day week and a universal basic income in Wales. It would be informative and essential to see the full reports so that they may help to shape this debate around these progressive ideas. Any updates from the Government on those reports today would be welcome.

Many of us will have been in jobs where we have experienced burnout. If you are lucky enough not to have had that, then you're very likely to know somebody who has. UK Government statistics from 2019-20 reveal that more than half of work-related ill health that year was due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety. Our current model of working is causing untold harm to workers, so a reduced working week could help cut levels of overwork and stress. A four-day working week is part of the antidote to the problem caused by the stress of modern life. It will improve mental well-being, as it will allow people more free time to relax.

I am the Plaid Cymru spokesperson on communities, and I'm excited by the potential impact a four-day working week would have on communities throughout Wales, as it would increase the opportunities for volunteering. It would improve mental well-being, physical health and people's outlook on life. We know this from the trials in Utah, which, after a 12-month experiment, showed increased levels of volunteering. This sustains the idea that many of our workers want to be involved in transforming society for the better, if they are given the chance.

To achieve these many gains for people in society, we need to ensure some principles and policies are in place. There should be no loss of pay, first and foremost. There should be the provision of green spaces, especially in disadvantaged areas, and Gwern y Domen in Caerphilly basin springs to mind as a place that we should preserve. There should be increased funding for theatres and arts to encourage public participation, and we should expand libraries, community centres and sports grounds to offer more zero-carbon activities in local communities. There should be greater support for education and training possibilities for adults so that they can be combined with more free time to boost skills.