In a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), which examined working hours across different countries and regions, Mauritius did not emerge among the hardest working countries.
Topping the list of the 2023 “Hardest Working Countries” is Tanzania, where the average workweek extends to a gruelling 54 hours. Bangladesh and Senegal closely follow with 51 hours per week.
In the Indian Ocean, the Maldives ranked 12th with an average of 48 hours per week.
Mauritius came in 94th place with an average of 38 hours of work per week. The International Labour Organization arrived at this figure by calculating the average hours worked across different professions.
By comparison, the Seychelles ranked 65th with an average work week of 40 hours, while Reunion Island ranked second to last with an average of 29 hours per week. Somalia was last, with an average of just 7 hours per week.
Interestingly, the countries with the longest work hours do not necessarily have the highest salaries. In fact, it is often the opposite.
For example, the Netherlands ranked 133rd with an average work week of just 30 hours, yet the average annual salary is USD 54,262 (Rs 2,460,781 according to the current exchange rate).
By contrast, the average Portuguese worker puts in 40.7 hours per week but earns an average of just USD 25,487 (Rs 1,115,835).
The International Labour Organization notes that more and more developed countries are experimenting with four-day work weeks in an effort to improve work-life balance and reduce the risk of burnout.
In general, European countries offer better employment conditions in terms of both salaries and work hours. In several European countries, workers put in less than 40 hours per week.
In the United States, the average worker puts in 34.4 hours per week. However, the ILO’s analysis suggests that many workers feel compelled to sacrifice their vacation time to keep up with their workload.
It is worth noting that some countries that are widely considered to be hardworking, such as China, did not make the ranking.
Sources: Defi Media, World Population Review
