Four-Day Working Week Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Lord Hendy
Main Page: Lord Hendy (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Hendy's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Four-Day Working Week
Lord Hendy Excerpts(2 years, 3 months ago)
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Lord Callanan (Con)
Well, we have no plans for a four-day week; we certainly do not have any plans for a three-day week.
Lord Hendy (Lab)
My Lords, it is all very well to say that the negotiation of working time should be between individuals and businesses, and I understand the Minister’s logic in saying so, but the reality is that employers have overwhelming power in relation to individuals. Is it not necessary to allow trade unions to speak on their behalf, and should the ministry not be encouraging collective bargaining on these issues?
Lord Callanan (Con)
In this country, we believe in freedom of choice. People are free to join a trade union if they wish and, as I have remarked before, only a minority have chosen to do so.