Attorney General and St. John’s City South candidate Sir Steadroy Benjamin has dismissed proposals for a four-day work week, arguing that the policy is not suited to Antigua and Barbuda’s economic realities.

Speaking during a candidate interview ahead of the April 30 general election, Benjamin said such a model may work in larger, developed economies but cannot simply be adopted locally.

“That four-day work week works in countries which are developed, diversified economies; those do not work in societies like ours,” he said.

He described the proposal as impractical for a small developing state, cautioning against importing policies without adapting them to local conditions.

“These fanciful theoretical ideas that they’ve got, you can’t transplant that into Antigua and Barbuda,” Benjamin added.

Benjamin said policies must be designed around the country’s specific economic structure and challenges, rather than mirroring systems used elsewhere.

“We have our own special idiosyncrasies… we must cut the cloth to fit our bodies,” he said.

His comments come as the four-day work week has been floated as part of broader policy discussions during the election campaign.

Benjamin, who is seeking re-election in St. John’s City South, framed the issue as part of a wider contrast between what he described as tested government policies and proposals he considers unproven.

He pointed to measures such as wage increases and ongoing economic initiatives as evidence of what he said was a more grounded approach to governance.