An evaluation of the 40-hour work week

Chile has been on the forefront of financial progress and innovation in Latin America for a few years. Its fast-growing tech sector has led to the nation being dubbed “Chilecon Valley” by some trade consultants.

Immediately, there are over 8,000 IT firms in Chile with this quantity set to extend because the 5G telecommunications community widens.    

The Authorities’s progressive coverage continues with the brand new labor reform in Chile. In early April, Chile’s congress overwhelmingly handed a invoice lowering the nation’s work week from 45 to 40 hours.

This new legislation can have far-reaching results on each staff and staff throughout the South American nation. 

Let’s dive into what the newest labor reform in Chile means for enterprise and why having skilled authorized illustration in Chile is essential. 

What does the labor reform in Chile imply for enterprise? 

The Nationwide Congress handed the labor reform bill in Chile on April 11, 2023. The nation will expertise a progressive lower within the work week, going from 45 to 40 hours.

Chile will now be according to nearly all of OECD member nations, which have a normal 40-hour work week.

Chile’s left-wing President Gabriel Boric stated it was a “pro-family challenge that goals on the good residing of all”.

The modifications embody a five-year transition interval which is able to cut back the working hours by one hour of labor per week per 12 months, ending in 2028. 

Companies can undertake this modification instantly or earlier than the five-year grace interval. State-owned Copper large Codelco introduced they’d implement the 40-hour work week by 2026. 

There have been different important modifications in labor reform in Chile apart from this one. The invoice additionally acknowledges totally different versatile practices that firms and staff can agree upon. 

For instance, a 4 by 3 work mannequin – consisting of 4 10-hour days adopted by three days off. 

Dad and mom of youngsters beneath 12 additionally profit by with the ability to arrange totally different begin and finish instances with their staff. 

These reforms additionally make sure that staff’ wages keep the identical and in circumstances the place particular job work hours can’t be diminished, further relaxation days are offered in the course of the 12 months.

“This challenge contemplates a protracted craving as a result of since 1937 (the ILO) has been selling the gradual discount of the working day to 40 hours and in lots of nations, this already exists. Now it will be a actuality in Chile as a result of there was the desire to make it occur.,” stated Chile’s Minister of Labor Jeannette Jara Román.

What number of hours is the work week in Chile? 

At present, Chile’s normal work week is 45 hours. These are among the longest work hours on the earth. 

Nonetheless, because of the new labor reform in Chile, this can be diminished to 40 hours over the subsequent 5 years. The official work week will now be diminished by an hour a 12 months till it reaches 40 hours in 2028. 

To place these modifications in perspective, Egypt has a 53-hour work week whereas Norway staff common 34 hours per week. In Latin America, Brazil has a 44-hour work week and Colombia has just lately diminished its work week to 42 hours. 

A abstract of the numerous modifications to labor reform in Chile 

• 45 to 40 hours work week
• Versatile employment agreements
• Parental advantages 
• No modifications to wage 

Here’s a abstract of the main modifications to labor reform in Chile:

45 to 40 hours work week

The official working hours can be step by step diminished from 45 hours to 40 hours by 2028. It can occur over the subsequent 5 years with the working week being diminished by one hour per week per 12 months. 

Versatile employment agreements

The brand new reforms permit staff to achieve versatile working agreements with their employers. For example, working 10-hour days, 4 days every week with three relaxation days. 

Parental advantages

The legislation permits dad and mom with youngsters beneath 12 to have totally different entry and exit schedules based mostly on their scenario, which can contain beginning work earlier or later.

No modifications to wage

The invoice additionally protects staff’ salaries. So the discount in whole working hours doesn’t equal a wage discount. 

Associate with a authorized knowledgeable to know labor reform in Chile

By partnering with a reliable authorized consultant, you’ll be able to make sure that your small business follows all of the related legal guidelines and guidelines in Chile, and stop any points with authorized compliance.

Chile is present process many social and financial reforms, so your small business should keep on prime of all of the authorized updates. 

An skilled native authorized knowledgeable can even assist you keep away from any cultural, monetary, and authorized points a brand new enterprise might face within the Chilean market. 

Biz Latin Hub affords complete market entry and back-office providers in Chile, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Biz Latin Hub can information you thru the labor reform in Chile

Our intensive attain positions us as the right accomplice to facilitate Chile enterprise funding, native recruitment, firm formation, and company authorized providers. 

Contact our multilingual staff to study extra about how we might help you do enterprise in Chile and the remainder of Latin America.

Get the newest information and uncover extra about doing enterprise in Chile HERE.