Finland’s new Prime Minister has called for the introduction of a flexible working schedule in the country that would involve a four-day-week and six-hour working day.
Sanna Marin, 34, – who is the second youngest head of government in the world – said it would allow workers to spend more time with their families.
The mother-of-one leads a centre-left coalition with four other parties which are all headed by women, three of which are under 35.
Marin said: ‘I believe people deserve to spend more time with their families, loved ones, hobbies and other aspects of life, such as culture.
‘This could be the next step for us in working life.’
Before Marin became Prime Minister she held a position as the Minister of Transport for Finland.
While in office in that position, Marin advocated for shorter work 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.
Andersson 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 ‘.
In neighbouring Sweden, where the six-hour-day working day was trialled 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 per cent.
