Browne Says UPP ‘Didn’t Originate’ Four-Day Work Week, Questions Feasibility

— Gaston Browne has pushed back against the opposition United Progressive Party’s proposal for a four-day work week, arguing the idea was already under consideration by his administration and warning that it cannot be implemented without careful planning.

Speaking on his weekly radio programme, Browne said the concept did not originate with the opposition and insisted his government had been engaging stakeholders on how such a system could work in practice.

“The four-day workweek is our initiative. They didn’t originate that,” Browne said, adding that discussions had included options such as employees working four days in office and one day remotely. 

He contrasted that approach with what he described as the opposition’s unstructured proposal, suggesting it lacked the technical planning required for nationwide implementation.

“You can’t just do it willy-nilly,” Browne said, as he questioned the practicality of rolling out a compressed work week across the public and private sectors without consultation. 

The prime minister’s remarks came amid broader criticism of opposition policies during the programme, where he argued that some proposals were designed to appeal to voters without clear implementation strategies.

“They don’t have a plan,” Browne said, accusing the opposition of trying to “capture the imagination of the people” with ideas that have not been fully developed. 

The UPP has promoted the four-day work week as part of its campaign platform ahead of the April 30 general election, suggesting it could improve work-life balance for employees.

But Browne said any such shift would require detailed analysis of its impact on productivity, public services and key sectors of the economy.

His administration, he said, would continue consultations before making any decision, signalling that while the concept remains under consideration, implementation would depend on structured planning and national readiness.

The exchange underscores a growing policy divide between the two parties as the election campaign intensifies, with debates focusing not only on competing ideas but also on how those ideas would be executed.

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