Work is an essential aspect of life, contributing not only to economic development but also to individual well-being and societal cohesion. However, the balance between work and life, as well as the quality of working conditions, varies significantly across the globe. This article explores the countries where people work the longest hours, those where they work the shortest hours, and highlights regions known for exemplary working conditions.
Countries with the Longest Working Hours
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and other labor studies, the countries with the longest working hours tend to be those with developing economies or cultures that highly value hard work and long office hours. These countries include:
Mexico:
- Average annual working hours: ~2,120 hours
- Mexican workers often face long hours with relatively low wages, driven by economic necessity and a strong cultural emphasis on hard work.
- Challenges include limited vacation days and a high level of informal employment.
South Korea:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,900 hours (though steadily decreasing due to reforms).
- Historically known for its demanding work culture, South Korea has implemented measures to reduce working hours and improve work-life balance. The standard workweek has been reduced to 52 hours in recent years.
Costa Rica:
- Average annual working hours: ~2,073 hours
- Many Costa Ricans work long hours, especially in agricultural and service sectors. However, there is growing awareness about the importance of leisure and family time.
Turkey:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,920 hours
- Turkish workers, particularly in the manufacturing and retail sectors, often work extended hours. Labor laws are in place, but enforcement can be inconsistent.
India:
- While official statistics vary, many workers in India, especially in informal sectors, work well beyond 48 hours per week.
- Issues such as lack of job security, inadequate breaks, and low wages are prevalent.
Countries with the Shortest Working Hours
On the other end of the spectrum, several countries prioritize work-life balance, offering shorter working hours and generous benefits. These nations often rank high in global happiness and productivity indexes:
Netherlands:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,440 hours
- The Dutch have embraced part-time work, with many employees working four-day weeks. This approach has contributed to high levels of job satisfaction and a balanced lifestyle.
Germany:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,350 hours
- Germany combines shorter working hours with high productivity. Workers enjoy robust labor protections, generous vacation policies, and excellent workplace conditions.
Norway:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,400 hours
- Norwegian workers benefit from strong labor unions, extensive parental leave, and a culture that values family and leisure.
Denmark:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,392 hours
- Denmark’s flexible working arrangements and focus on employee well-being contribute to one of the highest work-life balance ratings globally.
Sweden:
- Average annual working hours: ~1,452 hours
- Sweden has experimented with six-hour workdays and offers generous parental leave and vacation policies, reflecting its commitment to worker welfare.
Factors Contributing to Good Working Conditions
Countries with the best working conditions share several common factors:
Strong Labor Laws:
- Countries like Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have stringent labor regulations that ensure fair wages, reasonable working hours, and protection against exploitation.
Work-Life Balance:
- Scandinavian nations prioritize work-life balance, often incorporating flexible hours and remote work options.
Generous Benefits:
- Paid parental leave, extensive vacation time, and unemployment benefits are standard in countries like Norway and Finland.
High Wages:
- Higher minimum wages and equitable salary structures contribute to better living standards, as seen in Switzerland and Luxembourg.
Cultural Attitudes:
- Societies that value leisure, family time, and personal well-being, such as the Netherlands, often experience higher job satisfaction and overall happiness.
The Relationship Between Working Hours and Productivity
Interestingly, longer working hours do not necessarily equate to higher productivity. Research consistently shows that excessive work can lead to burnout, reduced efficiency, and health issues. Countries with shorter working hours, such as Germany and the Netherlands, often outperform those with longer hours in terms of economic productivity and innovation.
Challenges in Achieving Work-Life Balance Globally
While many developed nations have made strides in improving working conditions, challenges remain, particularly in developing countries. Issues such as:\n- Lack of enforcement of labor laws\n- High levels of informal employment\n- Economic pressures forcing extended work hours
These issues highlight the need for continued global efforts to promote fair labor standards and prioritize worker well-being.
The diversity in global working hours and conditions underscores the cultural, economic, and legislative factors influencing how people work. While some countries excel in providing their citizens with balanced and humane work environments, others face significant challenges that need to be addressed. By learning from nations with the best practices, policymakers and employers worldwide can work toward a future where work is fulfilling, productive, and harmonious with personal well-being.
Germany is the largest exporter of plastic waste in the EU, reports the portal of the weekly "Spiegel".
Last year, Germany sent abroad as many as 745.1 thousand. tonnes of plastic waste, according to the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden.
The amount of exported waste of this type has decreased by 51% in the last decade. - mainly due to import restrictions in some Asian countries.
However, Germany remains the largest exporter of plastic waste in the EU, with most of it going to the Netherlands, followed by Turkey and Poland, the largest buyer countries.
The Netherlands exports waste through its port in Rotterdam. In the list of EU countries, the Netherlands is the second largest exporter of waste, followed by Belgium, which has a significant container port in Antwerp.
According to research, plastic waste, including from Western industrialized countries, often ends up in the world's oceans and heavily pollutes the environment, emphasized "Spiegel".
The Federal Statistical Office presented the above data on the occasion of World Oceans Day on June 8.
After three years, the German coronavirus warning app stops warning users about exposure to infection. It is not even known how effective this application was.
According to former German chancellor Angela Merkel, the application was supposed to be a milestone in the fight against coronavirus.
Three years have passed, all pandemic restrictions have been lifted, and the most important feature of the application has just been disabled: warnings after contact with a person infected with Covid-19.
"It makes no sense (to keep alerts) with the low incidence we have now," said German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach. He added that Covid-19 is no longer so severe also due to the high immunity of the population.
On June 1, the coronavirus alert app will go into sleep mode. This means it will no longer be updated and will also disappear from the Google and Apple app stores. However, users can keep the app on their mobile phone if, for example, they have saved their vaccination certificates there and want to continue using them. Lauterbach also urged users to keep the app in case of another Covid-19 outbreak - or even a pandemic. - It may be that we need to reuse it for Covid-19. But it may also happen that we develop it further for other infectious diseases,' he said.
According to the German Ministry of Health, since its launch almost three years ago, the app has been downloaded a total of 48 million times. However, it is impossible to say how many people actively used it. Obtaining accurate statistics is not possible because the data from the application was only stored locally on the mobile phone for data protection reasons.
The German Ministry of Health is to investigate how effective the application was. The app cost the government €220 million – much more than originally planned.
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