10 countries with the longest working hours: Where does India stand?

The recent news of the death of a young CA in India allegedly because of over-work and work stress has not only caught people's attention but also stirred up a debate about toxic workplaces and work-life balance in the country. On September 18, social media was buzzing with the news of a 26-year-old CA's death, which her mother alleged was due to the overwhelming pressure and stress she had at her workplace. In a letter written by the late Anna Sebastian Perayil's mother Anita Augustine to the MNC's India Chairperson, Anita shared how her daughter was so full of life and dreams. However, the pressures and stress at her workplace took a toll on her and within four months of working at the MNC, Anna suddenly passed away. In response to Anita Augustine's letter which went viral on the internet, the MNC's India Chairperson offered his sympathies to Anna's grieving parents in his letter which was leaked online. He also said that the company is "continually building a healthy workplace for everyone". Meanwhile, as per reports, the Union labour ministry has now taken up the complaint and they'll be investigating the late Anna Perayil's untimely death and its connection to her workplace.

In light of this news, here we share the top 10 countries in the world that have the longest working hours and where India stands in it. The list is based on the data shared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as of January 11, 2024. Checkout the list here:

1. Bhutan
Despite having a population of only 7 lakhs, people in Bhutan top the chart with the most amount of working hours in the world. Employees in Bhutan work for roughly 54.4 hours per week!

2. UAE
Next on the list is the United Arab Emirates where employees work for 50.9 hours per week to drive their economy.

3. LesothoIn Lesotho, people work for 50.4 hours every week which makes it the third country with the highest working hours per week in the world.

4. Congo
At number four we have Congo, where employees work for 48.6 hours per week.

5. QatarIn Qatar, employees have an average work week of 48 hours.

6. LiberiaAt number six, we have Liberia where employees work for 47.7 hours per week.

7. MauritaniaPeople in Mauritania work for 47.6 hours per week.

8. LebanonAt number eight we have Lebanon, where people work for 47.6 hours per week on average.

9. MongoliaIn Mongolia, employees work for 47.3 hours per week.

10. JordanAt number 10, we have Jordan where people work for 47 hours per week on average.

What is the average workweek in India?As per the ILO report, in India people work for 46.7 hours every week on average. The data also revealed that 51% of India's employees work 49 hours or more per week. This makes India the second country in the world to have extended working hours, after Bhutan wherein 61 per cent of people work for over 49 hours per week.

In contrast, some of the leading economies in the world have a lower workweek for their employees. For instance: In the US, people work for 38 hours per week on average; China has a workweek of 46.1 hours; Japan's average workweek is 36.6 hours; and the UK's average workweek is 35.9 hours.

It is noted that working for long hours causes stress and adversely affects people's health. In the long run, it can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, burnout, decreased productivity, and even lifestyle diseases like high BP and diabetes. The government and individuals too need to take active measures to ensure having better work-life balance and living a more fulfilling life.