Chile debates workers' siesta law

A siesta is said to help increase productivity

Chilean workers could soon be forgiven for taking an afternoon nap after lunch if a motion being debated in Congress is approved.

Deputy Rodolfo Seguel, of the Christian Democrats, says every worker should have the right to take a 20-minute midday siesta as studies show that it would increase productivity and cut the risk of accidents.

But opponents have argued that a siesta would disrupt the working day and harm the economy. Some even raised concerns about where employees would sleep and whether employers would be forced to provide beds.

The BBC's Clinton Porteous in Santiago says that although siestas are traditional in many parts of Latin America, the Chilean move goes against the current trend in the region.

Mexico officially banned them for public workers four years ago, and the practise is dying out in most major cities.

Union issue

Mr Seguel says workers could make up for lost time in agreement with their bosses.

But Julio Dittborn, a legislator with the opposition conservative party, Union Democratica Independiente, is against the move. He does not think there will be enough votes to approve this initiative.

He told the BBC that if taking a siesta was important to employers and their workers, for reasons such as productivity, then it should be down to negotiations with the unions.

"It should not be enacted as a law for all economic sectors of the country," he said.

The debate in the lower house of Congress has been adjourned and will be raised again in two weeks time.