This week, the PS revived its idea of a collective reduction in working time. Working less for the same pay? What could be more appealing. But behind this tempting socialist offer lies a sly trap for employers, the State and… workers themselves.
According to Mathieu Bihet, federal MP, this idea contains nothing new and relies on a theoretical calculation that is unworkable in reality. Indeed, following this reasoning, the fixed amount of work could be divided like a cake among the number of workers.
However, reality is far more complex than that. In most cases, one worker cannot simply be substituted for another. This is all the more problematic since supporters of the 32-hour week claim that this measure will create jobs.
Ultimately, if two workers carry out the workload of a single person (as is currently the case) for the same unchanged pay, someone will have to cover the cost of the second worker. Labour costs will therefore rise considerably for employers, which will also undermine our competitiveness.
Worse still, the MP from Neupré points out that in the end it will be citizens who foot the bill. Citizens who have already been asked to contribute more than enough in recent times through the successive crises we have experienced. Protecting and boosting purchasing power must be an absolute priority.
Finally, it seems worth recalling the failure of the 35-hour week in France. This measure led to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and unprecedented wage stagnation.
We keep saying it, our businesses are desperately short of staff despite attractive salary offers. Proposing such a plan means disregarding our entire economic fabric and all the efforts it makes every day.
Let us focus instead on concrete and rational reforms that will allow us to reach an 80% employment rate in Belgium.