Archive · 5 Sep 2025
Netherlands' 4-Day Workweek: Lessons for India?
The Netherlands has a shorter work week than many other countries, with people working about four days a week.
This change happened because more women started working, leading to families where one parent works full-time and the other part-time.
This helped keep unemployment low and allowed people to balance work and family.
In contrast, the US and India have longer work hours, and the debate around work-life balance is ongoing, particularly in India.
Flexible work arrangements are becoming more important, especially for women.
The Netherlands has a four-day workweek, averaging 32.1 hours per week.
This shift was influenced by women entering the workforce and the 'one-and-a-half' earner model.
Shorter workweeks helped keep unemployment low in the Netherlands.
The US has longer workweeks and a significant number of women leaving the workforce.
India is debating work hours, with a push for flexible models to retain employees.
- Who
- Workers in the Netherlands, India, and the US.
- What
- Shift towards shorter workweeks in the Netherlands and the debate around working hours in India.
- When
- Netherlands shift started in the 1980s, ongoing debate in India.
- Where
- Netherlands, India, US, and EU.
- Why
- Netherlands' shift due to women entering the workforce and the adoption of a 'one-and-a-half' earner model.
- Netherlands Avg. Workweek (2024)
- 32.1 hours (4 days)
- US Avg. Workweek (2024)
- 42.9 hours
- India Avg. Workweek
- 45 hours
- Netherlands Unemployment (2024)
- 3.6%
- US Unemployment (July 2024)
- 4.2%