A number of European countries are trying to expand employment by a reduction of the workweek. In March, German chemical workers agreed to reduce the 40-hour regular workweek for 55,000 workers aged 58 and over by four hours every other week, with a reduction to 36 hours per week after 1987. Belgium and the Netherlands are pioneering work-sharing arrangements in response to unemployment rates of about 15%. Belgian workers in processing, chemical, nonferrous-metals, and paper industries agreed to further shrink their workweek to 37 hours, while Dutch metal and chemical workers are negotiating for a 38-hour week. In both countries, unions agreed to accompanying cuts in wages. In Germany, chemical workers had their workweek trimmed with no reductions in pay. (Business Week, April 11, 1983)
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