TORONTO – Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca has announced that, if elected, an Ontario Liberal government would pilot a four day work week. Speaking in a keynote address at the Ontario Liberal Party’s Annual General Meeting, he also announced that his government would resume the universal basic income pilot.
“We’ll be the party that puts workers first, and that helps our province transition to a new way of doing things,” said Del Duca. “We’re supposed to work to live, not live to work.”
The pilot would allow workers to work the same number of hours, but spread out over four days instead of five. The idea has been tested in New Zealand, Japan, Scotland and Spain, and Del Duca says he wants to look into it for Ontario too.
Del Duca says that the pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people think about their jobs, and that major changes are required to keep people safe, protect their mental health, and make sure everyone has access to the same opportunities.
“We need people in Ontario – particularly the next generation of workers – to believe they can live happy lives and pursue rewarding careers right here,” Del Duca said. “The Ontario LIberal Party will put workers first in this province, because that’s how our businesses and our economy will succeed.”
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