Swiss workers for industrial group AFG Arbonia Forster will now work 44 hours a week instead of the current 42 hours.

Stefan Kern, spokesman for AFG, confirmed the measures.

Carpenters under the collective bargaining agreement will not be affected by the change, but it does affect about 1,600 workers in various divisions including kitchen and refrigeration, steel and surface technology, heating technology, sanitation and windows and doors.

The longer hours will be in place until mid-2013 depending on the division.

AFG has about 6,000 employees worldwide with revenue of 1.3 billion francs a year.

Last year it booked a 70 million franc loss.