Japanese people overwork, ILO points out
According to the results of a recent ILO survey, more than one out of four Japanese people work more than 50 hours per week.
The survey compared the proportion of people who worked 50 hours or more per week--an indicator of overwork--among advanced countries.
As of 2000, 28.1% of the Japanese workforce worked 50 hours or more per week--the highest among countries surveyed--followed by New Zealand at 21.3%, the US at 20.0%, Australia at 20.0%, and the UK at 15.5%. They were followed by countries with rates under 10%, such as Ireland and Greece at 6.2%, Spain at 5.8%, and France at 5.7%. Sweden and the Netherlands had a rate of only between 1 and 2%. Although Japanese workers are infamous for working excessively long hours, these results provide stunning evidence especially when compared to the low levels posted by countries in Europe.
The report states that even if Japanese laws were to limit the working week to less than 40 hours, the existence of unpaid overtime work makes such laws far from effective in reducing the actual work times. In addition, the report points out that working hours are becoming increasingly polarized between those who feel they work too hard and wish to reduce their workload, and those who are unable to work longer hours although they wish to do so.
It is needless to say that working such long hours for extended periods of time have adverse mental and physical effects on workers, which may ultimately lead to losses for both industry and society. Strains have already become apparent in various forms during the past few years, but improvements are making very little headway.
According to one story, a Japanese company executive sent to work at a European branch office was so strongly impressed with the local workstyle of leaving the office at the officially designated time, that he adopted a management strategy that incorporated European-style work hours.
Of course, Japanese workers do not work long hours because of their love of work. If Japanese at least enjoyed working environments and standards that corresponded with the concept of "decent work," as proposed by the ILO, overtime work would not be as abominable.
