India among top overworked nations, 51% employees work 49+ hours a week

According to a research by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), 51% of Indian workers put in more than 49 hours per week, ranking India second in the world for overworked workers, after Bhutan. An Indian worker put in 46.7 hours a week on average. Pakistan and Bangladesh, two South Asian nations, were also highly listed for having longer workdays. Conversely, nations with considerably lower averages—such as the Netherlands and Norway—reported greater work-life balance. With an average of only 24.7 hours per week, Vanuatu had the lowest. The research emphasised the necessity for India to address labour laws, mental health, and work-life balance, as well as the need of sustainable work environments in striking a balance between worker well-being and productivity.