In This Country, 4-Day Week, Right To Ignore Bosses After Work

Spain, Iceland and Japan earlier tried the four-day work week on trial basis. The UAE became the first country to implement it in December.

Belgium has joined an increasing list of nations, which is offering its workers a four-day work week. This is part of a major Covid-era shake-up of labour laws, announced by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo on Tuesday.

"The Covid period has forced us to work more flexibly - the labour market needs to adapt to that," he told journalists after an overnight negotiation of the changes among ministers.

The most eye-catching change is the right to turn off work devices and ignore work-related messages after hours without fear of reprisal.

The measures are meant to enhance the quality of life of Belgians and offer them better work-life balance.