Europe shortens workweek: When will Serbia follow suit?

The average workweek in the European Union is set to be 35.9 hours in 2025, according to Eurostat data. This trend is fueling discussions about potentially shortening workweeks in Serbia.

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It is no longer a question of whether, but when working hours will be shortened in our country.

Aleksandar Radojević from the Independent Trade Unions of Serbia told RTS that reducing working hours is no longer a question of if, but when. He believes the eight-hour workday, over a century old, is obsolete in the age of artificial intelligence. "The benefits are huge, both for the individual and the company," Radojević stated, emphasizing that shorter workweeks allow people more time for family and reduce environmental impact. He pointed to successful four-day workweek trials in other companies, where employees return more rested and productive.

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The benefits are huge, both for the individual and the company.

Andrej Brkić from the Employers' Union agrees that longer hours do not necessarily mean more output. He stressed that increasing productivity in Serbia requires investment in technology, digitalization, and employee skill development. "The goal is not less work, but greater productivity," Brkić said. He noted that employers also prefer happier, more motivated workers, and that the current challenge is finding skilled labor, not jobs, a shift from two decades ago.

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The goal is not less work, but greater productivity.

Slovenia has already implemented a shorter workweek for citizens over 58 or with over 35 years of service, offering them a six-hour workday, a free Friday, or an extended weekend. This move, along with similar discussions in countries like Germany, the UK, and France, indicates a broader European shift towards re-evaluating traditional work structures.

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Employers do not want workers to spend more time at work, but to be more efficient and satisfied.