Top-10 Countries With Longest Working Hours 2023

In the pursuit of a respectable monthly income, the allocation of work hours plays a pivotal role in shaping the well-being and living standards of laborers across the globe. Recently, a comprehensive study by the International Labor Organization shed light on the countries with the longest work hours, providing insights into the challenges and disparities prevalent in the global workforce.

List of Top-10 Countries with Longest Working Hours

United Arab Emirates topped the list of countries with longest working hours with the average working hours of 52.6 per week per employed person, followed by Gambia, Bhutan and Lesotho.

Here is the list of top-10 countries with longest working hours:

Countries with Longest Working Hours
S. No.	Country	Average Working Hours Per Week Per Employed Person
1.	United Arab Emirates	52.6
2.	Gambia	50.8
3.	Bhutan	50.7
4.	Lesotho	49.8
5.	Congo	48.6
6.	Qatar	48
7.	India	47.7
8.	Mauritania	47.5
9.	Liberia	47.2
10.	Bangladesh	46.9

The Global Landscapes of Work Hours

The report reveals that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the list with an average of 52.6 hours per week per employed person. The statistics for the UAE are influenced by a significant influx of migrant laborers, constituting portion of the workforce. Approximately 46% of the workforce in the UAE exceeds the ‘excessive working limit’ criteria, defined as working more than 49 hours per week by the ILO.

Challenges Faced by Migrant Workers

The substantial number of non-nationals in the UAE working extended hours is attributed to factors such as exploitation, inadequate labor rights and the desire to remit substantial funds to their homelands. This phenomenon underscores the need for addressing labor rights and creating an equivalent environment for all workers, regardless of their nationality.

India’s position in the Ranking

India secures the 7^th position in the global ranking, with its workforce laboring for an average of 47.7 hours each week. This places India ahead of countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany in terms of average weekly work hours. The data also reveals that Indians work longer hours compared to some Asian nations, including China, Singapore and Japan.

Implications for Workers and Policy

The study highlights the need for a balanced approach to work hours, ensuring that laborers have access to a minimally acceptable number of work hours to prevent involuntary part-time employment and work-related underemployment. It also underscores the importance of addressing disparities in work hours within countries, as seen in Bangladesh, where 50% of employees work over 50 hours weekly.

Labor Conditions as the Bedrock of Employment

The Wages and Working Time Statistics repository provides crucial metrics on hourly and monthly wages, statutory minimum wage rates, instances of low income, gender-based wage disparities and actual weekly work hours. These metrics are instrumental in delineating the conditions of labor, forming the foundation of salaried employment and labor relationships.

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