A publication by the International Labour Office (ILO) entitled “Working Time and Workers’ Preferences in Industrialised Countries: Finding the Balance” has shown that European workers are far less likely to work in excess of 50 hours a week than their counterparts in other industrialised countries.
During the late 1990’s people working in excess of 50 hours a week in the US and Australia increased from 15% to 20% of the workforce. In Japan the figure was 28.1%.
By contrast the EU countries (before 2004 expansion) showed far lower figures ranging from 1.4% in the Netherlands to 6.2% in Greece and Ireland. The only exception in Europe was the UK where some 15.5% of the workforce spend in excess of 50 hours a week at work.
The publication reveals that in countries with relatively limited regulation of working time, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, tend to have a much higher incidence of excessive working hours than other countries.
In the European Union 46% of employees working fewer than 20 hours would prefer more work, whereas 81% of those who work in excess of 50 hours would reduce the number of hours worked if they could.
The European Commission announced on 23rd September 2004 its controversial proposal to update the 1993 European Working Time Directive, which limits workers to a 48 hour week with certain opt outs. (EPHA members can read EPHA’s briefing on the opt-out).
The proposal was sent to the Council and the European Parliament for agreement.
