90-hour workweek row: Which nations work the least hours, and where does India rank?

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanian has caused a storm with his latest proposal, which advocates a 90-hour work week, including Sundays, to maintain competitiveness.

The controversial proposal comes amid growing concerns about the dangers of overwork, highlighted last year by the tragic death of 26-year-old EY employee Anna Sebastian Peraille.

He reportedly succumbed to the pressures of long working hours just four months into the job.

Globally, working hours vary greatly, with Bhutan leading the list of countries with the longest working weeks, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO), with workers in Bhutan working an average of 54.4 hours per week, followed by the UAE at 50.9 hours and Lesotho: 50.4 hours.

In contrast, Vanuatu has emerged as the country with the shortest working week, with workers working an average of just 24.7 hours per week.

Source: Wage and Working Time Statistics (COND) Database, ILOSTAT

Other countries with the lowest working hours are Kiribati (27.3 hours), Micronesia (30.4 hours) and the Netherlands (31.6 hours), known for their progressive work-life balance policies.

India, ranked 13th among the most overworked countries in the world, sees its workforce working an average of 46.7 hours per week, with over 51% of Indian employees working 49 hours per week or more, long hours the country ranks second in the world.

A study by MediBuddy and CII found that 62% of Indian employees experience burnout, three times the global average of 20%.

The debate over excessive working hours has rekindled concerns about productivity, health and work-life balance. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the ILO identify long hours as a major occupational risk factor, contributing significantly to illness and early death. to the occurrence.

These findings challenge the idea that more hours lead to greater output.

While Subrahmanian’s comments have sparked a backlash, they highlight the tension between economic ambitions and employee well-being.