Chile enacts law to reduce working hours

The reduction of the working day from 45 to 40 hours a week was enacted in Chilean law on Friday. President Gabriel Boric announced one of his campaign promises, the law that reduces the working day. Although its implementation will be gradual over five years, the government has invited companies to do so in advance.

Authorities say that some 500 companies from different sectors have already adopted the labour restriction on a pilot basis. The government has awarded these companies the "40-hour seal". It has also invited companies to adopt four work days and three off and the country has more than 1.2 million companies. This is the second time Chile has reduced its working week. In 2005, it shifted from 48 to 45 hours per week.