A petition calling for a four-day workweek has appeared on the government's website

An online petition has been posted on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposing to switch employees to a four-day workweek of 32 hours with full pay. 

The authors of the petition propose that the government make the necessary amendments to the Labor Code and, as a first step in the reform, launch a mandatory pilot program for a specific list of industries, government agencies, and private companies, with the aim of eventually expanding this practice nationwide.

The authors cite chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and psychological exhaustion among citizens amid the war as reasons for the need for an additional day off. As an argument in favor of the reform, the initiators cite the experience of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, and Iceland, where the transition to such a schedule led to a 15–35% increase in labor productivity, reduced burnout among 71% of employees, and decreased the number of sick days by 65%. According to the authors of the appeal, this reform will allow businesses and the government to cut operating costs, reduce employee turnover, preserve human capital during a demographic crisis, stimulate the domestic services market, and bring the Ukrainian system closer to European standards.

Source: Cabinet of Ministers website.

Iceland became one of the first countries in the world to effectively implement a four-day workweek model at the national level. At the same time, the country’s experience has debunked the widespread myth that reducing working hours necessarily harms the economy.

Earlier, Mexico proposed ending the school year early due to the heat and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The idea has already sparked controversy: some parents support the changes, while others believe that education should not be adjusted to accommodate a soccer tournament.