.The Workday: Not a Threat, but an Opportunity

.# Pedro Aller (UGT) defends the reduction of the working day in Fuerteventura: “It’s not a threat, it’s an opportunity”

The reduction of the working day is back at the center of the trade‑union debate. UGT argues that working fewer hours is not only feasible but necessary to improve workers’ quality of life and to modernise a labour market that, according to the union, is still governed by “absolutely anachronistic” rules.

Aller made these statements on the radio programme La Voz de Fuerteventura (Radio Insular). He is the deputy general secretary for External Areas of UGT’s Federation of Services, Mobility and Consumption and has taken part in the union rallies held in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, which focused precisely on the working‑time reduction and the role of union action.

“For me it is essential to be in direct contact with delegates and members, to hear what their real needs are,” he stressed. In his view, this contact is crucial because “when we sit at national negotiation tables, the emphasis is not always placed on what actually happens in companies.”

UGT maintains that shortening the working day benefits not only employees but society as a whole.

“We are convinced this is a good thing,” Aller insisted, reminding listeners that the current legislation on the matter dates back to 1983. “Many of the people listening to us today weren’t even born then,” he added, noting that today’s productivity “has nothing to do” with that of four decades ago.

The union leader rejects the idea of imposing a shorter workday by decree, but he also criticises employers’ attitude during negotiations.

“We agree it should not be imposed, but when we get to the negotiating table they tell us ‘now’s not the time,’” he lamented. For Aller, the data disproves that argument: “If we compare what a company produced in 1983 with what it produces today, even with a smaller workforce, it is clear that it is perfectly possible.”

Spain is one of the countries with the most self‑employed workers but without a protective system

One of the most sensitive points of the debate is the impact on SMEs and self‑employed workers, especially in regions such as the Canary Islands. Aller distinguishes between the two groups.

Regarding self‑employed workers, he acknowledges a structural problem caused by outdated legislation.

“Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest number of self‑employed workers, but without a system that adequately protects them,” he explained, advocating a reform that guarantees decent benefits without creating inequalities.

On SMEs, he was unequivocal:

“It is indeed possible to implement a reduced working day, just like in any other company.” He cited the Navarre hospitality agreement as an example: “These are all SMEs, with wages above the average and a reduced working day, and none of them has closed. On the contrary, they are expanding.”

For Aller, the key is to change the perspective.

“When people talk about artificial intelligence and a 20 % boost in productivity, some think of laying off 20 % of the staff. I see it as an opportunity: reduce the working day by 20 % without losing productivity,” he said. “That’s what has happened throughout history.”

The unionist also debunked what he calls “a false myth” about the public sector.

“It is not true that the public sector works worse or that people work less there,” he asserted.

He explained that productivity per worker in the public sector is “equal to or higher than” that of the private sector, even though administrations are hampered by bureaucratic procedures. “Spain has very good public services, but they lack staff,” he warned.

In this vein, he called for more personnel in the administration and warned against the abuse of temporary contracts.

“Europe is pointing out the high number of temporary workers, many of them in legal fraud,” he noted.

Finally, Aller responded to business criticisms about absenteeism.

“If we talk about sick leave, I would be cautious,” he cautioned. “A sick leave is prescribed by a doctor. Talking about fraud is questioning the entire health‑care system.”

UGT insists that the debate on the working day cannot be postponed any longer.

“We want companies to make money,” Aller concluded, “but we also want them to distribute those profits more fairly.”