Time Use Week 2024
Advancing towards the right to time for everyone
Alba Barnusell I Ortuño - Diputació de Barcelona
Boróka Bó - Sociologist
Carl Honoré - Promotor Slow Movement
Diego Golombek - Investigator CONICET
Marta Junqué - Time Use Initiative
Raquel Gil - Ajuntament de Barcelona
Raquel Gil - Barcelona City Council
Saray Espejo - Generalitat de Catalunya
Alba Barnusell - Diputació de Barcelona
Gemma Badia - Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona
Hélène Reveillard - Rennes City Council
Jessamyn Encarnación - UN Women
Juha Haaramo - Statistics Finland
Pamela Quiñones - Ayuntamiento de Bogotá
Raquel Gil - Ajuntament de Barcelona
Saray Espejo - Generalitat de Catalunya
Ugo Lachapelle - IATUR
Laura Foraster - Catalonia International
The right to time: a right for everyone
The social organization of time causes significant dissatisfaction among a large part of the population, leading to health, equality, productivity, and sustainability issues. It is evident that we have a problem with time and urgently need to seek a more equitable and sustainable organization of time use. One of its most evident consequences is the existence of time poverty in various forms globally, impacting all social classes, albeit unequally affected by each axis of discrimination (gender, origin, age, ability…).
In Europe, approximately 20% of the population suffers from time poverty, particularly affecting women. In Latin America, this figure exceeds 50% depending on the country, while in Asia, karoshi, or death from overwork, remains a significant cause of mortality according to the International Labour Organization.
As articulated in the 2021 Barcelona Declaration on Time Policies, the first political statement acknowledging the importance of the right to time and time policies, the solution to this issue lies in recognizing the right to time. This acknowledgement is crucial to addressing discontent and time poverty, promoting a more balanced and equitable use of time.
To establish the right to time, active involvement of public institutions is essential. Since the early 2000s, municipalities have been pioneers in this domain, but in today’s global context, constructing effective public policies requires the engagement of metropolitan, supra-local, regional, and global institutions.
Public initiatives must also catalyse changes within the social and productive fabric. Organizing decent working time serves as a necessary complement to public time policies.
The right to time should be enshrined as a new civic right, ensuring it is universally accessible. Everyone deserves the assurance of their personal time to live, enjoy life, and have greater autonomy. The benefits of the right to time extend to individuals, organizations, society, and the planet alike. This year, the TUW’s goal is to advance towards the universal accessibility of the right to time.
Advancing towards the right to time for everyone
The Time Use Week (TUW) is a global event dedicated to promoting knowledge and inspiring case studies in time policies. Researchers, political institutions, social and economic organisations, and citizens from around the world will participate to foster dialogue across diverse fields of expertise and experiences, aiming for improved social organization of time. The tenth edition of TUW will take place from 21st to 25th October, with international days being 21st and 22nd, in Barcelona, and will be themed “Advancing towards the Right to Time for Everyone“.
TUW 2024 aims to comprehensively approach the right to time. It will engage specialized audiences such as institutions, social stakeholders, and the research community. Additionally, this year’s event is committed to including activities and initiatives accessible to the non-specialised public by different organisations in the world.
The focal point of this year’s edition will be updating the Action Plan of the Barcelona Declaration on Time Policies. This will provide a collective framework for organisations already committed since 2021, as well as newcomers and those initiating efforts towards better time management. The updated plan will outline specific commitments for the 2024-2026 period.
Participants attending the Week in person will have access to various on-site activities, including workshops and networking opportunities. Additionally, for the first time, TUW 2024 introduces a collaborating organisation badge for entities interested in hosting initiatives during the event.
Institutional partners
Time Use Week 2024 is co-organised by the Catalan Government, the Barcelona City Council, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, the Barcelona Provincial Council, and the Time Use Initiative.
It counts with the collaboration of Catalonia International and Time4All (project co-funded by the European Union).
Pre-TUW events are only in person and in Catalan.
Wednesday 18th September — Challenges of the labour market.
At Teatre del Cafè Nou (carrer la Riera, 123), Mataró. More information and registrations. Organised by UGT Catalunya.
Thursday 10th October — The right to time: a basic element for happiness.
Location: CaixaForum Macaya, Barcelona (Passeig de Sant Joan, 108). Co-organized by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Time Use Initiative.
Time: 18:30.
What is the basis of happiness? Recent studies link life satisfaction to a common variable: time. This session will delve into the relationship between time and happiness, analysing how the right to (one’s own) time can increase individual and community well-being.
With the participation of:
- Azhara Alonso, writer.
- Norbert Bilbeny, Professor Emeritus of Ethics at the University of Barcelona.
- Ariadna Güell Sans, coordinator of the Time Use Initiative.
- Beth Espinalt Capdevila, promoter of the Subjective Well-being Index of Catalonia.
Moderated by:
- Maria Cusó Serra, journalist and Head of Culture at RAC 1
Thursday 10th October — Redesigning Home Spaces for the Autonomy of Children Aged 0-3 Years
Location: Carrer del sol 13, Ripollet. Organized by Els Solets Minnilandia SCCL.
This talk addresses the importance of finding the right space for each family member. We discuss shared parenting in practice, the role of each adult in the family, how we can find our own moments, and the importance of self-care to provide quality care. Redesigning home spaces to give children their own area also means allowing them to find their own space and begin identifying their needs from an early age.
Thursday 16th October — Towards a new time balance
Location: CaixaForum Tarragona (Cristòfor Colom Street, 2), Tarragona. Co-organized by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Time Use Initiative.
Time: 18:00.
Redefining the meaning of work necessarily involves rethinking how we organize work time and, above all, how we harmonize it with other temporal needs in our lives, including family time, personal time, community time, and rest. There are already various practical proposals for change, as well as regulatory proposals to adapt to the labour needs of the 21st century.
With the participation of:
- Anna Ginès, Associate Professor of Labor Law at Ramon Llull University and ESADE, and member of the Expert Council of Time Use Initiative’s network.
- Gonzalo Pin, head of the Sleep Unit team and coordinator of the Pediatrics Service at Quirónsalud Valencia Hospital.
- Marta Junqué, director of TUI.
Facilitated by:
- Laura Casas, journalist at Tarragona Ràdio.
Every Wednesday in October — Caring for Yourself to Care for Others: Yoga and Meditation Sessions for Caregivers
Location: Carrer del sol 13, Ripollet. Organized by Els Solets Minnilandia SCCL.
Yoga to care for our body when we are mothers, fathers, grandmothers, caregivers… both physically and mentally. We often don’t consider that the work that most disconnects us from our needs as individuals is caring for our family.
Venue: Paranimf de la Diputació de Barcelona (access by carrer Urgell, 187), Barcelona.
Venue: Paranimf de la Diputació de Barcelona (access by carrer Urgell, 187), Barcelona.
Venue: Biz Barcelona (Fira de Barcelona, pavelló 8)
Thursday 24th October — Time Lapse
Location: Carrer Muntells, 1, Amposta. Organized by the Montsià County Council.
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lecture: “Women in High Positions and Time Management” Presented by Sònia Guerra
During her intervention, Sònia will discuss current challenges in the labor market, especially in relation to women occupying positions of responsibility. Additionally, she will share her own experience and professional career, offering a valuable perspective on how she has managed her time and the difficulties she has encountered along her path. It will be a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about the challenges and learnings of a woman with a successful trajectory in the professional world.
Transgenerational Conversation: What has changed and what remains to be done?
The radio host from Santa Bàrbara (Tere Giné from La Plana Ràdio) leads a transgenerational conversation to discuss the past and present of work-life balance and time management. What has changed and what remains to be done?
Closing of the conference
Thursday 24th October — What are Time Policies?
Location: Auditorium of the Department of Culture (Carrer Major, 14), Tarragona. Organized by the Territorial Services of the Department of Equality and Feminisms of the Government of Catalonia in Tarragona.
Time: 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Agenda:
- 9:30. Welcome
- 10:00. Lecture: “What are time policies and their impact?”
- 10:30. Round Table: Experiences in implementing Right to Time policies in the Camp de Tarragona area
- 11:30. Coffee Break
- 11:30. Workshop: Diagnostic tool on Right to Time Policies for municipalities
- 12:30. Closing
Friday 25th October — Time Lapse
Location: Carrer Muntells, 1, Amposta. Organized by the Montsià County Council.
Time: Morning
Meeting of Women from Montsià
Saturday 26 October - The mystery of lost time
Location: Play space 0-99, Clariana de Glòries, Barcelona. Organised by: Pacte del Temps de Barcelona, Barcelona City Council.
Time: 11.00 – 13.00h
Family activity “The mystery of lost time”, aimed at children and families, with the aim of raising awareness about the responsible use of screen time among the youngest ones in the city through play.
Free activity, without prior registration. More information here.
Thursday 31st October — Time Poverty, a Social Challenge to Address
Location: CaixaFòrum Tarragona (Carrer de Cristòfor Colom, 2), Tarragona. Coorganised by the “la Caixa” Foundation and the Time Use Initiative.
Time: 6:00 PM
For years, defining poverty solely as an economic value has been questioned, but time poverty is still scarcely used when assessing its multiple dimensions. Nevertheless, people without time for themselves cannot develop new skills and opportunities, create community, participate in democracy, and much more, which prevents their free development as individuals and full participation in society. A two-way conversation about what time poverty is, who it affects most, what impacts it has on inequality across different axes, and what can be done to reduce it through political action.
With the participation of:
- Joan Garcia, researcher at the Center for Demographic Studies (CED)
- Sara Moreno, Professor of Sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and researcher at the Center for Sociological Studies on Everyday Life and Work (QUIT)
Facilitated by:
- Laura Casas, journalist at Tarragona Ràdio
Thursday 31st October — Monologues in the Square
Location: Plaça Neus Català, Manresa. Time: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Organized by the Department of Feminisms and LGBTI of the Manresa City Council.
Interactive street performance where the audience will find characters in the square who will explain their dilemmas related to theatrical themes about care and co-responsibility, and care and machismo, with a dimension of the right to time. Performed by Nus Cooperativa.
Friday 15th November — Metropolitan Social Table: Right to Time
Organised by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area
Working session for representatives of municipalities that are members of the Metropolitan Social Table. More information and registration will be available soon.
Program:
- 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM: Welcome coffee
- 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM: Working session
Wednesday 27th November — Time Was Time: A Transgenerational Look at Time Use
Location: Centre Dones Despí (John F. Kennedy Street, 4. Sant Joan Despí). Organised by Sant Joan Despí City Council.
Time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
A talk-colloquium where we will explore some of the questions related to time and its uses: What is our experience of time in our historical present? How do the different generations living together understand it? What is the relationship between productive time and care time? What do we know about time thieves?
Presented by Núria Beitia Hernández, Officer for Equity in Labour of the Sant Joan Despí City Council.
Transformative initiatives to extend the right to time
Transformative initiatives during Time Use Week — Social and economic stakeholders
Apply synchronous and asynchronous schedules among teams (to ensure that meetings are held at times that facilitate work-life balance; allow extended arrival and departure times to facilitate work-life balance, etc.)
- Productors Audiovisuals de Catalunya (PAC)
- Consell de Treball, Econòmic i Social de Catalunya
- Associació Salut i Família
- OneTandem
Implement a pilot test of the 37.5-hour working week
- Associació de Famílies Nombroses de Catalunya (FANOC)
Implement a pilot test of the 32-hour working week
- Pla Estratègic Metropolità de Barcelona
- aFFaC
Provide the option to have lunch in less time than usual and to leave earlier to promote work-life balance
- Confederació de Treballadors Autònoms de Catalunya (CTAC)
Finish the work schedule before 19h
- Associació catalana dones Directives i Empresàries – Dones pel Futur
Implement the self-assessment tool for time policies
- Associació Catalana de Recursos Assistencials (ACRA)
- Federació de Cooperatives de Treball de Catalunya
- Marinva
- Espai Ambiental SCCL
- Associació de Professionals Autònoms i Empreses (APAE)
Implement a pilot test of measures or leave options, beyond those established by regulations, that promote work-life balance and co-responsibility
- Federación Española de Asociaciones Pro-Lactancia Materna (FEDALMA)
- Consejo Nacional de las Mujeres de España
Implement a pilot test of measures to increase autonomy in managing work time (time banks, recoverable flexibility…)
- Associació Cultural Arxiu i Memòria
Other initiatives
- SlowShop Lleida: Time Reform Day.
- Pimec: a study on time use from the entrepreneur’s point of view.
- Consell de Relacions Laborals de Catalunya: DES-CONNECTES. More information.
- Asociación Iberoamericana de los Bancos de Tiempo: “Books on Time” project
Transformative initiatives during Time Use Week — Local and Regional Governments
Coordinate an awareness campaign (conferences, awareness…)
- Ajuntament Hospitalet de Llobregat
- Ajuntament de Manresa
- Ajuntament de Sant Joan Despí
- Ajuntament d’Oliana
- Ajuntament de Tarragona
- Consell Comarcal del Montsià
- San Javier Public Library
Evaluate own time policies (using the self-assessment tool)
- Ajuntament de Sant Martí Sesgueioles
- Basque Government
- Hospital del Mar de Barcelona
Transformative initiatives during Time Use Week — Research
Organization of a study presentation, debate or talk about time use in the field of study
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
Publish analysis on time-use tendencies
- Universitat de Barcelona
Awareness campaigns
- Universitat Oberta de Catalunya
