<
https://theconversation.com/australia-used-to-lead-the-world-on-shorter-work-hours-we-could-do-it-again-263120>
"In the 1850s, when Melbourne stonemasons won the eight-hour day, employers of
the day prophesied economic ruin. These standardised hours then flowed into
other industries.
Far from ruin, Australians went on to enjoy one of the highest living standards
on the globe by the later 19th century, even after the deep depression of the
1890s.
Again, in the late 1940s and early 1950s, with the achievement of the 40-hour
week employers predicted economic decline. Instead, in the 1950s and 1960s
Australia enjoyed a rate of economic and productivity growth that is yet to be
matched.
Fast forward to this week, and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
has reignited this age-old debate. It has proposed that shorter working hours –
such as a four-day week – must be central to next week’s productivity
roundtable in Canberra.
Unsurprisingly, business groups and some economists have condemned this
initiative.
But at the core of this proposal for shorter hours is a simple truth: improved
productivity performance cannot be separated from how increased prosperity is
shared."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
