Uses of Time

>> The municipality leads the advancement towards a new social paradigm with its participation in key events debating time policies.

On October 20th, the UGT of Catalonia organized a day dedicated to reflecting on the distribution of citizens’ use of time from a gender perspective. Sonia Ruiz, the Director of Gender and Time Policies Services at the Barcelona City Council, was invited to conduct a training session titled “Time, Gender, and Intersectionality.” This event emphasized the importance of considering gender and other oppression variables in time distribution, with an inclusive and equitable focus. Learn more about the event in this news article: “Is Time for Everyone?”

Subsequently, from November 7th to 9th, the Smart City Expo World Congress 2023 took place, an international event where organizations, cities, and companies gathered to discuss the latest innovations in the urban realm. In this context, time policies were presented as an innovative perspective for urban design and public policy to be included in a smart city. In collaboration with the Smart City Congress, the Network of Local and Regional Governments for Time Policies organized a workshop to introduce and promote time policies. The Barcelona City Council was invited to share its experiences, highlighting the relevance of these policies in designing an inclusive and citizen-adapted smart city.

Following this initiative, on November 22nd, the Barcelona City Council was one of the promoting municipalities in the fourth Table of Municipalities for the Metropolitan Pact for the Right to Time. In this forum, discussions focused on time organization in social and productive fabric, focusing on the balance between work and personal life, mental health, labor equality, and environmental sustainability. The City Council shared its experience, notably the Nust Network, presented by Míriam Martínez Camacho, a technician from the Gender and Time Policies Directorate.

The diversity of these participations highlights the ongoing commitment of the Barcelona City Council to transforming work time models and promoting a comprehensive approach to time that addresses issues such as gender equality, environmental sustainability, and mental health. This active presence in key events and debate initiatives reaffirms the pioneering role of the City Council in creating a healthier, more efficient, equitable, and sustainable future for the citizens of Barcelona and beyond.