Diolch, Llywydd. I’d like to thank Members and, of course, the Deputy Minister for their contributions today.

I have to say that I worry that we might miss an opportunity here. I note the Government's amendment removes the call for a pilot here in Wales, and I appreciate what the Deputy Minister has just said in terms of backing an evidence-based approach. Well, I would say one way of collecting evidence is to do our own pilot. Let's have the ambition to do it ourselves. That is a missed opportunity, I think. We have nothing to lose in pursing a four-day work week, and I would hope that Members would agree that, at the very least, we should trial it here in Wales.

We’ve heard from several Members here today about the benefits to society that a four-day work week could bring. For example, it will improve workers' mental health and well-being, as Carolyn Thomas highlighted; it will promote gender equality, as Sioned Williams highlighted; and it will come with environmental benefits, as Mabon ap Gwynfor highlighted, through the associated reduction in commuting times. Is it a silver bullet? Well, Sioned and Jack have already answered this question for us: no, it's not a silver bullet. And, as Jack actually touched on, this is part of a progressive package of policies such as universal basic income, for example.

But I would also note the Conservative amendment. I hope I have got the wrong end of the stick here, but to me, it seems that, by deleting references to international trials, the Conservatives are burying their heads in the sand here. Those international examples show us how a four-day work week trial can work—there's tangible evidence there for us to look at. To ensure, for example, that wages do not fall as working hours are reduced, Governments will need to legislate so that productivity gains from advances in fields like automation are distributed amongst the workforce rather than benefiting solely the profit margins of big businesses. And those international trials have shown us how this can work.

In terms of reserved powers, which Joel James and Gareth Davies both touched on here, over employment, that isn’t the whole picture. The Deputy Minister, Jane Dodds and Hefin David touched on this. The hours of many public sector employees fall under the devolved powers of Wales, and in many regions, the public sector accounts for over 25 per cent of employment. So, Wales could use the public sector as a 'pioneer' and start by trialling a four-day work week there. There is also an opportunity to use Wales's fair work Act and incentivise shorter working weeks by building it into procurement strategy, which is all above board according to section 60 of the Wales Act 2006, or so I'm told by someone who knows a lot more about this than I. The size of the sector, of course, means that it can influence working hours in other sectors too. And of course, third sector organisations can also lead by example.

COVID-19 has caused a pivot in working practices, with evidence suggesting that compressing the working week with a small reduction in work hours is having multiple benefits. Plaid Cymru’s 2021 Senedd election manifesto stated:

'Explore opportunities for promoting a shorter working week and a better work-life balance.'

A four-day work week is one of those opportunities, and I look forward to this debate going beyond this Chamber. A number of Members have already mentioned Jack Sargeant's event, scheduled tomorrow. For those who aren't convinced, I would implore you to go to that event, hear out the debates.

And, of course, I would reference, as well, something that the TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady has said on a four-day work week, and I quote:

'In the nineteenth century, unions campaigned for an eight-hour day. In the twentieth century, we won the right to a two-day weekend and paid holidays. So, for the twenty-first century, let’s lift our ambition again.'

She believes that, in this century, we can win a four-day working week, with decent pay for everyone. And I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. For those who aren’t convinced yet, no doubt there were those who were not convinced by the benefits of having a weekend, as I mentioned earlier. So, keep an open mind. Come join us.