Finland's New Leader Calls for 4-Day Working Week, 6-Hour Day Limit
World's youngest leader, Prime Minister Sanna Marin, introduces new plan
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The world's youngest leader, Finland's newly elected Prime Minister Sanna Marin, has revealed a new plan to introduce a four-day working week, with a six-hour per day limit.
34-year-old PM Marin has called for the introduction of a flexible working schedule in the country to give Finnish workers more personal time.
Marin says her plan would allow workers to spend more time with their families and pursuing hobbies.
The mother-of-one leads Finland's coalition government along with four other parties, all of which are headed by women, three of whom are under 35.
"I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture," Marin said in a statement.
"This could be the next step for us in working life."
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Before Marin became prime minister, she held a position as the Minister of Transport for Finland, according to the Daily Mail.
While in office in that position, Marin advocated for shorter working weeks to improve employee rapport and productivity.
In Finland currently, it is normal to work eight hours per day, five days per week.
The proposal was immediately welcomed with enthusiasm by the minister of education Li Andersson, the leader of the Left Alliance.
She said: "It is important to allow Finnish citizens to work less.
"It is not a question of governing with a feminine style but offering help and keeping promises to voters."
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In neighboring Sweden, where the six-hour-day working day was trialed in 2015, results showed that employees were happier, wealthier and more productive.
In early December Finland's ruling Social Democratic Party council voted 32-29 to name Sanna Marin over rival Antti Lindtman to take over the government's top post from incumbent Antti Rinne.
In November Microsoft Japan took a bold move in a bid to improve work-life balance by introducing a three-day weekend for their employees.
The results showed that productivity went up by a staggering 39.9 percent.
