Time Policy Handbook for Local Governments

Time Policy Handbook for Local Governments, prepared by Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU), aims to support local governments in addressing time as a policy area and developing policies for its fair organization.

Time is more than an individual resource to be managed; it can also be understood as a set of social arrangements that shape the health of individuals and communities, social equality, economic life, and the functioning of cities. In this context, the fair distribution of time forms part of policies aimed at promoting social well-being.

Time policies, such as aligning daily life with biological rhythms, urban planning approaches such as the “15-minute city,” and organizing working hours in line with decent work principles, offer local governments tools to improve quality of life and build more sustainable cities.

Time Policy Handbook for Local Governments focuses on the role of local governments in the fair organization of time and provides a framework for institutions to develop time policies in line with their own needs and circumstances.

The handbook includes key concepts related to time policies, assessments of the relationship between care work, gender inequality, and time poverty, global data on time use, a conceptual framework for local governments, and examples of good practices from around the world.

The handbook is designed as a reference and practical resource to make the unequal distribution of time visible and support its fairer organization at the local level. It aims to contribute to the development of time-oriented local policies by policymakers, local governments, civil society organizations, and other interested stakeholders.