Santiago, Chile (EFE)
The norm, which also has the approval of both unions and business employers, was approved by almost all parties with political representation and makes Chile the third country in the region, after Ecuador and Venezuela, to set the day in 40 hours per week.
“Today it has been demonstrated that, although some thought it was impossible to advance towards a better quality of life for workers in our country, it can be done,” said the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Jeanette Jara, after the vote.
The measure, which could be enacted on May 1 on the occasion of Labor Day, proposes an initial reduction of 45 to 44 working hours a week during the first year of the law’s validity.
The second reduction will be up to 42 hours from the third year, while the goal of 40 hours will be reached in the fifth.
Jara stressed that the law was supported by a “resounding majority”, since it only had the refusal of the far-right Republican Party, and recalled that the reduction in working hours “is a demand that comes from many years ago.”
“We thank many sectors of the opposition who took the step and joined the ruling party. We believe that this is done for the good of all of Chile,” he added.
An exceptional working day in the region
The initial project was presented in 2017 by the Communist Party – one of the political formations with which Boric governs – but faced many complications during its first parliamentary discussions.
“Politics has shown that it can rise to the challenges posed by the Chilean people. (…) I want to thank the workers and all those who, while in the opposition, stepped forward,” said the official spokesperson, Camila Vallejo, one of the promoters of the initial project.
The progressive president, who introduced some changes to the initial project such as gradualness, gave it a new impetus last year and in August asked Parliament to process it “urgently.”
Once enacted, Chile will become, along with Ecuador and Venezuela, an exception in the region, where the working day in most countries is 48 hours a week.
Boric sees the fundamental change for a new Chile
For his part, Boric described the reduction of the working day to 40 hours a week, approved this Tuesday by Parliament, as “essential” to bring the country closer to “a new Chile.”
“The mandate of our Government is to move towards greater justice and I have no doubt that improvements such as 40 hours are essential to bring us closer to a new Chile, a fairer one and a fuller life. Let’s move forward! ”, Claimed the president through his Twitter account, shortly after the historic vote.
Boric remarked that the new norm had been “adding support and dialogue” between different formations for many years and defended it as an initiative to improve the quality of life of Chileans: “Today we can finally celebrate the approval of this project that reduces working hours , a pro-family project that aims at the good living of all, “he said.