"Working from 9 to 5, what a way to make a living," Dolly Parton, a living icon of American country music, sang for decades, complaining about the inflexible working day designed for the industrial era. Precisely, that rigidity is what today new technologies have begun to put in check.This is a discussion that takes place around the world and that defies almost a century of legislation, beyond the mere mention of "labor flexibility" hedgehogs the skin of leaders in countries in which the trade union tradition has a very important weight. strong, like Argentina.However, the issue already appears strongly in these latitudes. Without going any further, Chile announced the opening of a work table in which the Government will set out the objectives of its plan to reduce and aggigate the working day.President Sebastián Piñera, along with his finance ministers, Felipe Larraín; Work, Nicolás Monckeberg; and Economy, Juan Andrés Fontaine; It seeks to produce a document in the next eight weeks that contains the measures that can be applied in its work adaptability project.The president tries to mark the court and has the backing of the Chilean business. The objective is to propose an alternative to the Vallejo project, which the Work Commission of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile has already dispatched for treatment at the site.The meetings will begin this Thursday at 17, in which Jon Messenger, specialist in working hours of the International Labor Organization will be present. A strong commitment that tilts the balance towards the project of the ruling party."The Government must assist with a proposal with a technical basis to avoid the approval of the opposition alternative," an important source that maintains permanent dialogue with the main trans-Andean politicians tells iProUP.Today, the workday of Chilean employees is 45 hours per week and Vallejo's proposal proposes to reduce it to 40. For its part, the "Piñera plan" consists of bringing it to 41 and reducing as much as possible the impact on Business.Although it is estimated that the official plan will prevail, the road will not be easy, as it does not have a majority in Parliament. "The debate was superintense in the media and on the street. And it is not the only issue: well-being and mental health, among other topics, also come into dance," the source tells iProUP.In addition, the neighboring nation is going through a strong discussion about labor issues that the digital economy forces to rethink. But this will be the mother of all the battles so that Piñera does not lose ground in other reforms.Two projects in conflictThe work table includes an agenda with objectives and deadlines to pave the way towards a flexible day and with schedules more in line with the times of the digital economy. Representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Labor will listen to SME delegates and union leaders to plan a progressive reduction."The opposition project is unconstitutional because it means more public spending. And a parliamentarian cannot be the one that generates public spending, because then nobody would take care of the balances," is the Chilean president's complaint about the onslaught of the opposition proposal that, among other aspects, criticizes Piñera's proposal for the following points:- Reduce the weekly day from 45 to 41 hours "average" (the Vallejo project refers to 40 hours per week as "maximum")- Maintains the monthly total in 180 hours (the opposition initiative reduces it to 160 hours)- Flex the schedule according to the employee-employer agreement (the other initiative maintains the current stiffness)- It proposes four days of work -of 10 hours and fraction on average- plus three days off (Vallejo establishes five days of 8 hours or six of 6 hours and fraction)- It will be applied progressively (the reform promoted by the PC seeks immediate application in large companies and gradually in SMEs)"Ultimately, the Government's proposal gives companies the possibility to adapt and flexiblicen schedules without paying more. On the other hand, if an employee works 8 hours instead of 12, he does not charge the other four. In this regard he has the vision of the employer and that is why he got the support of the business chambers, "the source tells iProUP.ReformsAnother source familiar with the trans-North American politics remarks that this initiative is far from being one more among many. Rather, it is part of a battle that Piñera needs to win so that he does not drop the "Work Modernization" plan presented in May.In addition to the flexibility of the day, the bill includes the following measures:- Bag of overtime: similar to the "bank of hours" applied by Mercado Libre in Argentina (an extra amount of time is agreed for times of high demand that is later compensated with additional vacation days)- The possibility of agreeing between the employee and the company the start and end times of the day- The option in favor of the employee to reduce lunch time to advance their departure time- The chance to adapt the day in periods of family vacations"In addition, the issue of automation and replacement of the workforce is being discussed. There was a very long strike by Walmart employees and a proposal to rearrange jobs is awaiting," the source said.The other big debate is the pension reform. Currently, the retirement system is characterized by being:- Solidario: a kind of retirement for all, it covers 60% of the poorest population in Chile- Tax: composed of contributions from workers (salaried or self-employed.). It is managed by Pension Fund Administrators, similar to the former AFJP- Volunteer: they are for special savings accounts that allow you to withdraw before or reach higher salaries. They are administered by the State"Work is being carried out based on the increase of the Solidarity Pillar, a kind of base pension for all. There are still some issues to be polished," a high trans-Andean source points out to iProUP.Although the Government wishes to increase the mandatory contribution from 10% to 14% (in charge of companies) and give incentives to those who retire at an older age, the opposition seeks that the Pillar Solidario reach 80% of the population, increase the salaries 20% and that the funds be managed by a public body.The Argentine caseIn Argentina, 70% of employees maintain a traditional scheme. That is, go to the office at regular times, according to Randstad figures provided to iProUP. However, eight out of 10 says that with a flexible agreement they would improve creativity, productivity and the level of satisfaction with the company.After the STEP, the possibility of advancing in a new labor law project remained in standby. In fact, it is a subject that is avoided by its thorny character. Miguel Acevedo, president of the Industrial Union, says he talked about the issue with Alberto Fernández. However, Matías Kulfas, called to hold an important position if the candidate of the Front of All wins, was responsible for breaking down an advance in this regard."What you have to do is work sector by sector and see where you can improve," says Kulfas. On the contrary, experts agree that the current legislation should be reviewed since it dates back to the 1970s when the computer had not yet been created.Jorge Figueroa, director of Public Affairs and Sustainability of Randstad, considers that Argentina has "legal clothing that does not adapt to these labor relations", so there is a risk that "many people are left out, totally unprotected."In this sense, he affirms that the pejorative burden of the concept of flexibility must be removed and "talk in terms of 'flexi-inclusion' to effectively ensure the incorporation of people to decent work, which allows them to be insured, and that this coverage can be carry along".The labor lawyer Juan Carlos Cerutti, agrees on this point and exemplifies: "'Bank of hours' does not mean that a person works 48 hours in a row, but that he can do it until 12 and have another 12 hours of rest, in addition to annualizing the day." However, he emphasizes that due to the current uncertainty "nobody is willing to discuss a reform"."These are things that are going to be able to talk and demystify. Anyone who wins, be it Macri or Fernández, will have to keep it in mind, in Parliament or in the reform of statutes," adds Cerutti.Solana De Diego, lawyer of the De Diego & Asociados study, points out that "this scenario is marking the urgent need to adapt the labor law, since we have the highest costs for the worker and for companies throughout the region."The Argentine Plan BIn the absence of a law aggiornada to the new economy, there are several companies that already contemplate policies to improve the working environment in pursuit of increased productivity.Developed countries have regulatory frameworks that encourage work-life balance, with reduced working hours and home office options several days a week, depending on the type of work.In fact, the Mexican Carlos Slim, owner of Claro, says that the world must go to work weeks of four days and even three, as already implemented in some Asian countries.Thus, people have greater well-being and rest, thereby achieving greater productivity. More opportunities are also given to young people who wish to enter the employment market. It's not the only one:- United Kingdom: a study by the University of Warwick, indicates that cutting the day improves levels of stress and health- Sweden: in a pilot test, dozens of people spent 8 to 6 hours: they were less sick due to illness and substantially improved their productivity- New Zealand: Perpetual Guardian signed the workday from Monday to Thursday, 8 hours a day. It was extended because no more losses were recorded- Germany: Metallurgical guilds achieved that employees only serve 28 hours per week and achieved greater productivity and automation utilization"If there is no new labor law in the short term, collective agreements will be the path chosen by the companies themselves to face reforms," ââsays De Diego. And it indicates that "in some firms telecommuting is already regulated. There is still no specific rule, only a resolution of occupational hazards on basic measures for working at a distance."According to his analysis, "the Labor Contract Law speaks of 'hour by hour', when new technologies are for the fulfillment of objectives, without a specific schedule, which is the tendency of the new generations"."There is a better life and you dream of it, right?", Triggers the theme of Dolly Parton. In Chile, at least, they are closer to making it a reality.