Earlier this year, the small leftwing Spanish party Más País announced that the government had accepted its proposal to trial the idea. Talks have since been held, with the next meeting expected to take place in the coming weeks.

Iñigo Errejón of Más País, said on Twitter: “With the four-day work week (32 hours), we’re launching into the real debate of our times. It’s an idea whose time has come.”

The premise of a four-day working week has been gradually gaining traction around the world. The change has been hailed as a means to increase productivity levels, improve the mental health of employees and counter climate change. The idea has taken on new significance as the coronavirus pandemic heightens issues around mental health, burnout and work-life balance.

As a result of increased interest in a four-day working week, Leftwing parties in Spain have seized on the idea. Iñigo Errejón said: “Spain is one of the countries where workers put in more hours than the European average. But we’re not among the most productive countries. I maintain that working more hours does not mean working better.”

While the exact details of the pilot will be worked out with the government, his party has proposed a three-year, €50m (£43m) project that would allow companies to trial reduced hours with minimal risk.

The costs of a company’s move into the four-day week, for example, could be covered at 100% the first year, 50% the second year and 33% the third year, The Guardian reports.

Héctor Tejero of Más País, said: “With these figures, we calculate that we could have around 200 companies participate, with a total of anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 workers. The only red lines are that we want to see a true reduction of working hours and no loss of salary or jobs.”

Tejero estimated that the pilot could get under way as early as autumn, ushering in the first national initiative to reduce working hours since France began moving towards capping the work week at 35 hours in 1998.

The party has suggested the pilot be guided by a panel of experts, including representatives from government, workers’ unions and business lobbies, who will also help analyse the results.

What Más País is hoping to see is an echo of the experience of Software Delsol, the southern Spanish firm that last year became the first in the country to implement a four-day working week. Tejero said: “They saw a reduction in absenteeism, productivity went up and workers say they are happier.”

A source with Spain’s industry ministry said talks were in their initial stages. At this point everything is up for debate, from the cost of the pilot to the number of companies involved and the timeline, she added.

The idea has faced some opposition, with one of the leaders from the country’s main business associations describing it as “madness” in the wake of the country’s worst recession since the civil war. Ricardo Mur of CEOE, told a forum in December, argued that “Getting out of this crisis requires more work, not less.”