Solar Energy Instead of Power Outages in Pakistan: How the Population is Driving the Countries Energy Transition

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In a world increasingly impacted by climate change and rising energy costs, Pakistan emerges as a surprising example of an impressive energy transition. The use of solar energy is booming—not driven by large corporations, but by the people themselves. Motivated by rising electricity prices and the need for a stable energy supply, more and more households and small businesses are turning to solar power. Through initiative and ingenuity, Pakistanis are creating their own energy solutions.
Electricity prices in Pakistan have skyrocketed in recent years, placing an almost unbearable burden on many families. Since 2021, rates have increased by more than 155%. Simultaneously, the power supply remains unreliable. Frequent power outages, known as “load shedding,” are implemented to ease the grid’s burden and have become a daily reality for many. Especially during the scorching summer months, when temperatures soar above 40°C and fans and air conditioning are essential, this situation can become life-threatening for some.
Rising Electricity Prices Force Pakistanis to Act
The combination of rising prices and an unstable supply has triggered a solar energy boom among Pakistanis. Increasingly, people are installing solar panels on their rooftops to reduce their dependence on the national grid. In urban areas like Karachi and Lahore, solar panels are now a common sight. The hope for stable and long-term affordable energy drives this growing trend.
Pakistanis are taking responsibility for solar energy generation. Photo: Jamshaid Anwar / Pexels
Solar Energy Becomes Affordable in Pakistan
What fuels the solar boom is the decreasing cost of solar technology. Particularly, China’s overproduction of solar panels has led to significantly reduced costs. For many Pakistani families who previously had no choice but to endure high electricity bills, investing in solar installations has become feasible.
A basic system, consisting of solar panels and a battery, is often sufficient to supply a household with essential power. Lights, fans, and small appliances can operate independently of the public grid. The rapid spread of this technology has also created new economic opportunities: local businesses specializing in the installation and maintenance of solar systems are flourishing. In rural areas, the market for solar technology is generating numerous new jobs.
Solar Power generated energy has drastically increased in recent years in Pakistan. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Solar Energy for Agriculture in Pakistan
In Pakistan’s rural areas, solar energy has proven crucial for agriculture. Solar panels power water pumps needed for irrigating fields. In a country frequently plagued by droughts, this means not only higher yields but also greater security for farmers. Without solar power, many would still rely on expensive and environmentally harmful diesel generators for irrigation.
The long-term benefits are clear: In addition to reducing energy costs, the environmental footprint improves. Especially in an era when the climate crisis makes weather patterns increasingly unpredictable, solar energy offers a sustainable alternative.
The Downsides of Pakistan’s Solar Energy Boom
Despite all the progress, there are significant challenges. The rapid adoption of private solar installations is creating problems for the national power grid. It was never designed to handle decentralized energy production. As many households now generate their own electricity, demand for grid power is decreasing, pushing state-run utilities into financial distress. Simultaneously, the outdated grid cannot absorb surplus electricity produced by solar systems.
Another issue is the unregulated market. With the solar technology boom, many vendors have entered the market, not all offering high-quality products. Cheap solar panels and batteries often lose efficiency quickly, posing financial risks to users. Without clear standards or regulations, consumers are often stuck with substandard systems, which could harm trust in the technology over time.
What Is the Pakistani Government Doing for Solar Energy?
The Pakistani government has acknowledged that solar energy is a key to the country’s future. Initial initiatives aim to promote the expansion of renewable energy. The Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Punjab, one of the largest in the world, exemplifies government support for large-scale projects. The government has also set a goal: By 2030, 30% of Pakistan’s energy should come from renewable sources.
However, these measures are insufficient to address current challenges. Critical investments in modernizing the power grid remain absent. Subsidies or low-interest loans to help low-income households access solar technology exist only sporadically. The government urgently needs to take action to establish the infrastructure necessary to sustain the solar boom.
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Billionaire Tax Proposal: Leading Nations Write History to End Hunger and Defy Injustice

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For the first time, the world’s richest countries are taking steps to tax billionaires globally. Economist Gabriel Zucman has introduced a simple yet powerful idea: a 2% tax on billionaire wealth. This tax could raise $250 billion every year. To put it simply, just $23 billion of that money could end hunger worldwide. The G20 nations have now agreed to work together on this historic plan. It marks a major step toward creating a fairer global tax system.
Imagine a world without hunger. According to Oxfam, $23 billion (USD) a year would be enough to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. That’s less than 10% of what a global billionaire tax could raise annually.
But the potential goes far beyond feeding the hungry. The extra funds could transform education systems, build hospitals in underserved areas, and fund vital research on climate change. Some of the money could also support startups tackling social and environmental challenges.
How a Small Tax Could Change the World
The plan is straightforward. Around 3,000 billionaires worldwide would pay a minimum of 2% of their wealth in taxes each year. Those who already pay equivalent income taxes would not be affected.
Right now, billionaires often pay just 0.5% of their wealth in taxes. Under this new proposal, their contributions would finally reflect their immense resources. Experts estimate that this change could raise $250 billion annually.
To put it into perspective: Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of over $205 billion, and Mark Zuckerberg, worth $167 billion, would both contribute substantial amounts.
From Decades of Talks to Real Progress
After more than 10 years of discussions, G20 nations have finally begun to act. Last year, they reached a historic agreement on global corporate taxes. Now, they are turning their attention to taxing the world’s wealthiest individuals.
In June 2024, Zucman presented his plan to the G20 under Brazil’s leadership. His report (“A blueprint for a coordinated minimum effective taxation standard for ultra-high-net-worth individuals“) outlined how the tax could work on a global scale, ensuring fairness and effectiveness.
G20 Leaders Commit to Change
Countries like France, Spain, Colombia, and members of the African Union have expressed strong support for the plan. At the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, finance ministers pledged to collaborate on taxing billionaires more effectively.
Brazil, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has made tackling inequality a top priority. This agreement is an important first step toward making the billionaire tax a reality.
Is the World Ready for a Billionaire Tax?
Many experts and activists see this as a turning point. NGOs have also welcomed this step by the G20. Martin Kaiser, Executive Director of Greenpeace Germany, stated:

“The G20 are not letting the world’s billionaires off the hook for their responsibility in climate destruction. The development of a billionaire tax will continue. That alone is good news for greater fairness. It cannot be that the excessive lifestyles of just a few thousand billionaires around the world are massively fueling the climate crisis, which threatens us all.”

However, not all countries are on board. Major economies like the U.S., India, and China have reservations. For now, each nation decides how to tax its billionaires.
Meanwhile, the UN has approved a new global tax agreement aimed at preventing tax evasion by the world’s ultra-rich. Advocacy groups have called this move the most significant tax policy shift in decades.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Jasmin Mahmoud as the original source/author and set a link to this article on TheBetter.news. https://thebetter.news/portugal-drug-policy/ The rights to the content remain with the original publisher. Läs mer…

Unbreakable: Duralex Glass Heritage Saved by Its Workforce

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They complement every French bistro like a petit café after a meal: Glasses from Duralex have cult status in France and are very popular internationally. Nevertheless, after several difficult years, the French glass manufacturer was on the verge of collapse. High energy prices and declining sales pushed the company to the brink of insolvency. After multiple takeovers and bankruptcy proceedings, the workforce took charge of Duralex by founding a cooperative, preserving all jobs—and securing the company’s future.
Hailed by the New York Times as one of the best drinking glasses in the world, Duralex products are enjoying great popularity worldwide. Indiana Jones used them to drink his whiskey and James Bond managed to catch a scorpion with a Duralex glass after emptying it.
But the story of these iconic tumblers with the round belly begins much earlier in the heart of France. In 1945, Duralex was founded in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, a suburb of Orléans. Since then, glasses have been manufactured here using a special, patented process and sold all over the world.
Iconic Glasses Made in France
Few drinking glasses can claim to be as sturdy and iconic as this one. In France, there is hardly any person who has not drunk out of a Duralex glass at some point. Even in school, children learn about the properties of these glasses, which can be dropped and yet will not break. For many, Duralex glasses are not only functional, but also part of their collective memory. The number in the glass bottom, an indication of the production mold, became a game for generations of schoolchildren: whoever had the highest number had to fetch the water for the others.
Long-Standing Company Under Pressure
However, the resilience of its glasses cannot be deduced from the economic resilience of the company. Duralex is not the only long-standing company that has come under economic pressure in recent years. Increasing competition from low-wage countries and high energy costs made domestic manufacturing more and more difficult. In particular, the energy-intensive process of glass tempering, in which the glass is first heated to a high temperature and then cooled rapidly, became increasingly expensive. The company was only incurring losses.
Ultimately, the pandemic dealt Duralex the final blow. Insolvency seemed inevitable. After several changes of direction and insolvency proceedings, the company even suspended production for a short time.
Two companies submitted takeover offers. Both included plans for massive job cuts. The case was taken to court in Orléans.
Duralex Employees Set Up a Cooperative and Secure All Jobs
After tough negotiations, the court in Orleans ruled in July 2024 to accept the employees’ plan to found a cooperative. The workforce saved all jobs by uniting more than half of its members to take control over the future of the iconic glasses and invest in their own company. In a statement, the newly founded cooperative said:
‘We are taking our destiny into our own hands and are determined to advance our company, an icon of French industry, in an ambitious transformation project.’
There was support from politicians and authorities. The cooperative received around €10 million to purchase the production site and preserve jobs in the factory and at suppliers.
But more power brings greater responsibility. The employees are now involved in all decisions in a board of directors. They elected the former plant manager, François Marciano, as director. He is supposed to help them get the company back on track. The first step is to convince the rest of the workforce and then the whole world of the new business model.
Raising a Glass to Duralex’s Cooperative Future
The aim is to reduce the high production costs by investing in renewable energies and to make Duralex profitable again by developing new products. To do this, the company needs to modernise its machinery and structures. It wants to build up rather than down. Duralex plans to set up more departments to make sales and marketing more professional.
The renewed attention Duralex is receiving has already boosted demand for its iconic glasses. The cooperative aims to restore profitability within the next five years.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Justus Hartmann as the original source/author and set a link to this article on TheBetter.news. https://thebetter.news/duralex-cooperative/

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“No One Pays Less Tax Than Billionaires” – Renowned Economist Zucman Calls for a Global Wealth Tax

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The richest people pay the least taxes. What sounds like a story from the Middle Ages is a reality in 2024. We spoke with renowned economist Gabriel Zucman about why this is a problem and what we can do about it. His solution: a global wealth tax.
Interviewer: Can you explain the impact of tax evasion by multinationals and the super-rich on broader society?
Gabriel Zucman: The main impact is that it increases inequality. When the richest people avoid taxes, the rest of the population has to pay more. This allows the super-rich to accumulate even more wealth, which makes inequality worse. That’s why it’s so important to fight tax evasion.
Corporations and the super-rich use tax havens like the Cayman Islands to hide their money from tax authorities (source: unsplash)
Interviewer: If we could reduce tax evasion, what benefits would there be for the average citizen?
Gabriel Zucman: Firstly, if the richest people and multinational companies paid their fair share of taxes, the rest of us could see lower taxes on income and consumption, like VAT. Secondly, more tax revenue could go to essential public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These are key drivers of economic growth. Overall, this would boost prosperity for everyone.
Interviewer: What specific actions can Austria and the EU take to combat tax evasion by the super-rich and multinational firms?
Gabriel Zucman: There’s a common belief that individual countries can’t effectively address tax evasion, and that these issues can only be solved globally. This is not true. Any country can take action, like imposing a minimum tax on multinational firms. While there’s a global minimum tax of 15%, Austria could increase it to 20% or 25%. Läs mer…

Gas Price Cap, Rent Controls, and Affordable Food: Why Spain’s Economy is Booming

Publicerad denFörfattareSophie Wenkel

While the economy in some EU countries is stagnating and even slipping into recession, Spain’s economy is showing rapid growth. Spain’s socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has implemented government interventions to regulate prices. This approach has kept inflation low over the past few years and stimulated economic growth. As a result, Spain is now a driving force within the EU and is projected to have the highest economic growth rate in the Eurozone for 2024.
Price Controls as a Successful Economic Strategy
Spain is one of the EU countries that has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, energy crisis, and inflation surge particularly well. Its economic growth in recent years has far surpassed the EU average, and predictions for 2024 estimate a growth rate of 2.4–2.7%, making Spain the fastest-growing economy in the Eurozone. The Sánchez government took action during the energy crisis by intervening in prices, which helped keep inflation consistently low. Key measures included a gas price cap and rent controls, which helped curb price increases. In addition, the government suspended VAT on essential food items, helping to ease the burden of rising food costs.
Immigration as a Key to Spain’s Prosperity
Another factor behind Spain’s strong economic growth is the influx of skilled workers, particularly from Latin America. This immigration has eased the labor shortage in sectors like technology and hospitality. New immigration policies are expected to support this trend further.
While many European countries focus on restricting immigration, Spain has embraced an open approach. In mid-October 2024, Sánchez presented his plans to the Spanish Parliament, emphasizing that immigration is not only a humanitarian issue but also essential for the country’s economic future:
“It is necessary for the prosperity of our economy and the sustainability of the welfare state.”
The government plans to simplify the recognition of foreign qualifications, introduce a new labor migration program, and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for residence permits. At the same time, integration measures are being expanded.
Lowest Unemployment Rate in 15 Years
Spain’s unemployment rate skyrocketed following the financial crisis of the late 2000s. However, it has now fallen to around 11.3%, the lowest level in 15 years. This improvement is largely due to the robust economic growth under Sánchez’s leadership during recent crises.
Despite being high by European standards, many sectors in Spain, such as technology and construction, are facing a shortage of skilled workers. Rural areas, in particular, are struggling with depopulation and are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain essential infrastructure.
“We have elderly people who need caregivers but can’t find them. Businesses are looking for programmers, technicians, and builders but can’t find them. Rural schools need more children to avoid closing,” said Prime Minister Sánchez.
Sánchez also plans to ask the European Commission to bring forward the implementation of the EU-wide migration pact to next year. Under this plan, migrants and asylum seekers would be more evenly distributed among EU member states based on factors like GDP and population.
Spain’s Financial Market More Stable than France
Spain’s positive economic developments are also reflected in its financial market. Recently, the yields on 10-year French government bonds surpassed those of Spain for the first time. In simple terms, investors now receive a higher return for purchasing French government bonds compared to Spanish ones, suggesting that investors see Spain as a lower-risk country than France, the EU’s second-largest economy.
In January 2024, Spain’s bond yields were still 0.4 percentage points higher than France’s. During the worst of the Eurozone crisis, the difference between Spanish and French bonds was nearly five percentage points.

This article was updated on October 11 to include the information that Spain intends to focus on migration in its labor market policy in the future.
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Former Coal City Becomes Climate Leader: Bottrop’s Energy Transition

Publicerad denFörfattareSophie Wenkel

The energy transition—shifting from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy—only works if everyone can participate. Bottrop, a city in western Germany, shows how this can be done. Once a coal-mining hub, Bottrop has transformed by replacing heating systems, renovating buildings, and installing solar panels—all in just a few years.
The energy transition is crucial for addressing the climate crisis. As a result of the ongoing use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, the planet continues to warm. Consequently, the effects are becoming clearer each year: longer, hotter summers, drying rivers, and heavy rains that cause floods.
In order to tackle the climate crisis, we must stop using fossil fuels. For instance, cars need to run on electricity from water, wind, and solar power. Oil and gas heating systems should be replaced by heat pumps. Furthermore, district heating systems must switch to renewable energy like geothermal power.
Bottrop: From Coal Stronghold to Energy Leader
Achieving this transition requires action from everyone. Cities around the world are involving their residents, and Bottrop is leading the way. Over the past few years, the city has replaced heating systems, upgraded buildings, and installed many solar panels. As a result, Bottrop leads Germany in heat pumps and has the highest number of solar installations in North Rhine-Westphalia.
So, what made this possible? The answer lies in a proactive energy policy that directly engages the community.
Unlike many cities where people need to find advice on their own, Bottrop’s approach is more hands-on. Energy advisors go door-to-door, speaking directly with residents about renovation options. The city also holds workshops and information sessions to encourage more people to get involved.
A Fair and Collaborative Approach
Research shows that climate policy success depends on how it affects people’s lives and how fair it is. Bottrop’s “One-Stop-Shop” model ensures residents get all the help they need in one place. This includes technical advice and financial support, thus making the energy transition easier for everyone.
Moreover, this model is becoming popular across Europe. It helps residents find the best deals for renovations and works with social housing to ensure that improvements benefit everyone, including those in affordable housing.
Public Support is Key to Success
Bottrop shows the real challenge isn’t the technology. The tools for the energy transition already exist and continue to improve. Instead, the challenge is getting people involved. Residents must be willing to replace heating systems, renovate homes, and support new wind turbines and power lines. They also need to support policies that create the legal framework for these changes.
Bottrop has proven that with support and involvement, the energy transition can succeed. This success offers a model for other cities working toward a sustainable and fair future.This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast / Kontrast Redaktion as the original source/author and set a link to this article on Scoop.me. https://thebetter.news/former-coal-city-climate-leader-bottrop-energy-transition/

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Historic decision forces corporations to pay minimum of 15% tax globally

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

Multinational corporations such as Amazon, Facebook and Apple will now have to pay a minimum global tax of 15%. Even hiding their profits in tax havens won’t help. They will have to pay tax where they generate their profits, not where they produce or where they have their fictitious headquarters. This has been agreed by 138 countries after years of negotiation. This global tax is now coming into force – a “reform of the century” on the road to fair taxation.
OECD countries and the G20 nations have been negotiating global tax justice for more than ten years. In 2021, 138 of the 141 countries agreed on a two-pillar reform; a minimum tax rate of 15% and a tax shift away from the place of production to the place where profits are made. The regulation will come into force in January 2024.
The basic idea is simple. If profits in tax havens are taxed at a higher rate, it pays less for companies to shift their profits there. This won’t only effect stereotypical tax havens such as the Caribbean islands, where there is often no corporation tax at all. Tax havens within the EU, such as Ireland with 12.5% corporation tax or Hungary with 9%, are also set to be hit.
“The principle of paying taxes where profits are generated is gaining acceptance and a common tax rate of 15 per cent puts a stop to destructive downward tax competition,” says Evelyn Regner. The MEP (Social Democratic Party of Austria) has been campaigning for fairer taxation of corporations at the European level for years.
Despite criticism that China and the USA are not on board, and that a global tax rate of 15% is too low, there has never been a comparable regulation before.
“For the first time in the history of taxation, states are being given the right to tax profits generated in other states according to agreed rules,” write tax experts Prof Dr Deborah Schanz and Dr Ulrike Schramm.

A MINIMUM TAX RATE OF 15 % COULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL 220 BILLION DOLLARS
The minimum tax rate will apply to all groups with an annual turnover of more than 750 million euros – regardless of whether the parent company or only one subsidiary is based in an EU member state. This affects around 7,000 to 8,000 companies worldwide and, according to OECD calculations, is likely to generate around 200 billion dollars in additional taxes.
For Austria, the tax office is expecting 100 million euros in additional revenue from 2026. According to economist and head of the tax department at the Vienna Chamber of Labour, Dominik Bernhofer, this could even amount to 200 to 300 million euros per year. In the long term, it could be even more, as there will be less profit shifting and tax competition. Together with his colleague Professor Matthias Petutschnig from the University of Vienna, Bernhofer looked at 19 of the largest Austrian companies. These include the cardboard group Mayr-Melnhof, banks such as Erste Bank and Raiffeisen, Vöst and Andritz. According to them, these 19 companies alone would have to pay a good 130 million euros more per year.
AUSTRIAN PEOPLE’S PARTY REPEATEDLY OPPOSED TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVES AT EU LEVEL
Conservative and liberal governments in Europe have been resisting tighter taxes for corporations for years. The Irish government, for example, once declared that it did not want Apple to pay any back taxes, even though this would be necessary under EU law. Austria’s Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) finance ministers are also taking part in the blockade games. Back in 2018, the then ÖVP Finance Minister Löger blocked tax disclosure by large corporations at EU level. His predecessor Schelling – also ÖVP – also blocked the EU’s planned financial reporting obligation for large corporations in 2016.
The Austrian parliament decided in 2019 that Austria should campaign for more transparency and tax disclosure, no matter who is finance minister in the future. Despite this decision, Austria abstained from another vote at EU level in 2021, once again preventing a push for greater tax transparency. The Finance Minister at the time was Gernot Blümel (ÖVP).
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Colombia strengthens regional economies and promotes cooperation instead of competition

Publicerad denFörfattareKontrast.at

Latin America is emerging as the place to look for alternatives to the neoliberal economic system. In Colombia, the Gustavo Petro led government has spent the last year restructuring the previously isolated sector of small businesses and cooperatives. Petro wants to shift away from this model, and into a solidarity-based system. 
The German-language Latin America news portal amerika21 reports that the establishment of a solidarity sector is intended to promote small domestic companies in Colombia. These companies include coffee producers, food vendors, artists and small businesses in the construction sector. The Colombian government has already initiated solidarity-based associations of micro-businesses in eleven regions, with a total of 33 of these projects planned. At a year-end meeting in Ibagué, 3,200 organisations celebrated the development of the solidarity economy in the country.
NEW ECONOMIC APPROACH: COOPERATION INSTEAD OF COMPETITION
The co-operatives, small businesses and small-scale farmers in the eleven regions have joined together to form so-called circuits. This means that, based on the interactions between their products and services, the businesses have also formed cross-sector networks. For example, the “Circuit for Industry, Trade and Tourism” has been created in the northern department of La Guajira and the “Circuit for Tourism and Renewable Energies” in the desert region of Tatacoa.
In the “Solidarity Network of Coffee” (Cafesol) in the department of Huila, small coffee farmers can now join forces instead of competing against each other.
PETRO WANTS TO FAVOUR COOPERATIVES FOR CONTRACTS
Last year, the government department for solidarity organisation in Colombia launched a project to create a solidarity sector. Initially, the department organised local meetings on the topic of the solidarity economy, where small-scale farmers, cooperatives and micro-enterprises could get to know each other and exchange ideas. Entrepreneurs were then trained to take on leadership positions in an educational programme. This enabled existing cooperatives to be strengthened and new cycles to be established.
President Gustavo Petro emphasises the strategic importance of the solidarity sector for the economy in Colombia:
“We want associations of small shopkeepers alongside the financial cooperatives. We want associations of small potato farmers who join forces to obtain subsidised loans so that they can begin the light industrialisation of their products.”
In addition, 30% of state contracts will no longer be carried out by large companies in future. Rather, they will be taken by joint co-operatives. This applies to projects such as road construction. The mergers of small companies therefore make it possible to complete larger contracts, which in turn generates more profit for the sector.
SOLIDARITY-BASED ECONOMY INSTEAD OF NEOLIBERALISM
The Colombian government under the presidency of Gustavo Petro shows that there are alternatives to the neoliberal model. Instead of emphasising competition, the economy is to be geared more towards a principle of solidarity by promoting the cooperative sector. The project suggests that it is possible to strengthen the local economy with the help of small businesses and cooperatives. With the development of a solidarity-based sector, small businesses can be maintained and further developed collectively.
This work is licensed under the Creative Common License. It can be republished for free, either translated or in the original language. In both cases, please cite Kontrast.at / Anna Drujan as the original source/author and set a link to this article on Scoop.me. https://thebetter.news/colombia-promotes-economic-cooperation/

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Complete success for the 4-day week in South Africa: 90% of companies want to keep it

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South Africa has become the latest in a long list of 4-day week trialists. Here, the test run was a complete success. Not only the employees, but also over 90% of participating companies want to keep the reduced working hours with the same pay. This is in line with the global trend. However, one small detail distinguishes the African country from previous tests – very few South Africans want to have Fridays off.
The test of the 4-day week in South Africa has been running since 1 March 2023. 28 South African companies and one company from Botswana took part. Most of them are in the IT, finance and recruitment sectors. But how exactly does a study like this work?
Essentially, employees only work four days a week instead of five, do the same work and receive the same salary. Unlike in most previous trials, each employee in the 29 companies was allowed to choose their own day off.
As in the previous tests, the results are consistently positive, both for the employees and for the companies.
RESULTS: LESS STRESS & BURNOUT AND MORE JOB SATISFACTION
After around six months, the first results are now available. These are similar to the results of trials already carried out in other countries. The employees report that they were:
– less stressed
– sick less often
– enjoyed going to work more than before the trial
The mood of trialists had also improved at home as a result of the reduction in working hours. The frustration and stress normally induced by a long week were not taken home from work.
The participating companies are also satisfied, as productivity has remained the same. In the long term, it could even increase as a result. This is because staff turnover fell during the test phase, i.e. fewer employees left the company during this time. This means that the company’s expertise and experience is retained.
Around 92% of the participating companies plan to retain the 4-day week. However, there is one peculiarity that distinguishes South Africa from fellow trialists. While employees in other countries mostly want Fridays off, it is not so clear in South Africa. Only around a quarter of them took Fridays off.
TEST OF THE 4-DAY WEEK IN SOUTH AFRICA IS PART OF A GLOBAL SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS
The study is part of a whole series of tests being carried out by the non-profit organisation “4 Day Week Global”. It has already been successfully implemented in several countries around the world, including Australia, Spain, Japan, the UK and Iceland. The results have been consistently positive.
Iceland is one of the first countries to de facto introduce the 4-day week following a successful test. The reduction in working hours is already a reality for almost 80% of Icelanders.
THE 4-DAY WEEK IN AUSTRIA?
In contrast to South Africa, a 4-day week test has yet to be carried out in Austria. Nevertheless, there are already some companies that have switched to the 4-day week on their own. For example, the Upper Austrian IT company Tractive. A detailed list of companies that have already opted for shorter working hours in Austria can be found here:
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The Swedes defy Elon Musk and bring Tesla to a standstill.

Publicerad denFörfattarethomas

The Swedes have brought Tesla to a standstill. Billionaire Elon Musk’s company refuses to negotiate with the Swedish union over wages and working conditions. As a result, 120 Tesla mechanics went on strike. Workers in transportation, postal services, cleaning, and other industries quickly joined the strike. Now, the strike could potentially spread to other European countries.
Elon Musk is far from a friend of labor unions. The billionaire and CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) have been cracking down on worker organizing in his companies worldwide. Union members at Elon Musk’s companies are fired, and their activities are spied upon.
This anti-union policy is now being pursued by the billionaire in Sweden as well. However, Swedish unions are not backing down. What started as a conflict between Tesla management and 120 Swedish workers has now paralyzed the company. The likelihood of the conflict expanding to other European countries is increasing.
Musk is against collective bargaining agreements
In Sweden, as in most European countries, wages and working conditions are regulated by collective bargaining agreements. Unions negotiate a contract with management that applies to all employees.
Musk and Tesla, however, do not support such collective bargaining negotiations. Those who want to work at Tesla must negotiate wages and working conditions individually with management. The result for most Tesla employees is that they earn less than their counterparts in other companies in the industry.
Tesla is in constant conflict with labor unions. However, the electric car company is likely to face a tough challenge from Sweden’s labor unions. Foto (unsplash)
This is also the case in Sweden. There, 120 mechanics in Tesla’s Swedish subsidiary are said to earn less than the industry average and have worse pension and insurance conditions. For years, the Swedish Metalworkers’ Union has been trying to convince Tesla to sign a collective bargaining agreement to address this issue. However, the company has not budged, leading the 120 Tesla mechanics to go on strike.
Post, transportation, suppliers – no one wants to work for Tesla anymore
The 120 mechanics, however, were not alone for long. Dockworkers supported the Tesla workers and blocked the import of new Tesla vehicles through the country’s ports. Workers at a Tesla supplier, Hydro Extrusions, which manufactures aluminum components for Tesla, are also now supporting the strike. Production has come to a halt until Tesla meets the demands of its workers.
Taxi drivers, cleaning staff, and painters have also joined the strike. Stockholm’s largest taxi company no longer buys Teslas for its fleet, cleaning staff refuse to clean Tesla buildings, and painters refuse to repaint Teslas.
Cleaning staff, in solidarity with the striking Tesla mechanics, refuse to clean Tesla’s buildings.
However, Tesla is particularly affected by the actions of the state-owned postal company, Post Nord. In Sweden, vehicle license plates are only sent from a central location: Post Nord. Post employees are now refusing to send license plates for Tesla. You can still buy a new Tesla in Sweden, but you can’t drive it. Tesla is now seeking a court ruling to have license plates delivered for their cars.
Musk calls strike “insane”
Elon Musk and Tesla have remained silent on the strikes in Sweden so far. However, when postal workers joined the strike, he commented on X (formerly Twitter): “This is insane.”

This is insane
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 23, 2023

Tesla is reportedly planning to fly in workers from other countries to undermine the strike. The head of the Metalworkers’ Union, Marie Nilsson, commented on this, saying, “We haven’t seen anything like this in Sweden since 1937 or so.” The following year, 1938, is considered the beginning of the Swedish social partnership.
The unions won’t back down, according to the head of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, Susanna Gideonsson:
“It will end with the employees getting a collective agreement in one way or another.” When asked what would happen if Tesla doesn’t sign a collective agreement, she replied: “Then Tesla can leave the country.”
First Sweden, then Europe?
The strike in Sweden could end disastrously for Tesla. Unions in Norway have already announced their intent to prevent Teslas from entering Norwegian ports and being transported to Sweden by land. The strike could also spread to Denmark. Post Nord, the state-owned postal company that does not send Tesla license plates in Sweden, operates in the neighboring country as well.
However, the biggest threat to Tesla lies in Germany. In 2022, the company opened a large factory with around 11,000 employees (according to Tesla) there. This factory produces the majority of Teslas for the European market. Similar to Sweden, Tesla is refusing to negotiate with unions in Germany over wages and working conditions.
The factory in Germany reportedly has a high number of workplace accidents. Employees also criticize significant work pressure and the lack of safety and health precautions.
Elon Musk is facing increasing pressure
The Tesla CEO is already under significant financial pressure. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) did not go as planned. The social media platform has lost thousands of users in recent months and has been plagued by negative press, including massive layoffs. Musk largely financed the purchase of Twitter with Tesla shares.
However, things are not going well for Tesla either. The production of the new Cybertruck model is facing significant challenges. Thousands have already pre-ordered the Tesla pickup truck, but due to rising raw material prices and planning issues, Tesla seems unable to fulfill the orders.
“With the Cybertruck model, we’ve dug our own grave,” Elon Musk told investors.
There are also problems with existing models. Tesla had to recall 55,000 cars just last month. In addition, Tesla is being investigated for fraud. Tesla is accused of misleading customers and potential buyers about the ability to use the autonomous driving mode.
If the strike in Sweden spreads to other European countries, it will further increase the political and financial pressure on Tesla and Elon Musk. Läs mer…