IFMR conducted a study on the transition to a 4-day work week in Uzbekistan.
Experts of the Institute of Forecasting and Macroeconomic Research (IFMR) analyzed the areas where the 4-day work week can be applied.
The results of the correlation analysis showed that there is no correlation between GDP per hour of work and weekly hours of work (0.027). This indicator is not correlated in countries where people work 35 hours per week or less, and in countries where people work 40 hours per week or more.
Calculations showed that there is a high correlation between labor productivity and working hours in the economy of Uzbekistan.
According to IFMR experts, there are opportunities to move to a 4-day work week in education, healthcare (some sectors), scientific activities, IT and banking spheres.
Moving to a flexible work schedule and shortening the work week will help create a number of benefits. This affects overall work efficiency and improves the socio-economic environment:
• firstly, the health of employees improves: an additional day off allows employees to have a good rest and gather energy for work;
• secondly, by increasing the economic activity of the population, especially women, in the labor market, an effective fight against unemployment will be ensured;
• thirdly, the enthusiasm of employees increases, they can concentrate on performing important tasks quickly and qualitatively, the loss of working time will be reduced;
• fourthly, reducing working hours has a positive effect on the environment and reducing the stress on transport, as well as fuel and energy consumption;
• fifth, there will be an additional impetus to the development of the entertainment and culture sector;
• sixth, the standard of living of the population will improve. Ample opportunities will be created to spend time with family, engage in hobbies, improve cultural level, engage in sports, and self-education.
“In general, having studied foreign practice, as well as according to the results of calculations, IFMR experts believe that there are opportunities to switch to a 4-day work week in some sectors in the conditions of Uzbekistan,” the institutional report reads.
