WHO: Shorter Working Hours Could Save Human Lives

Worker illustration (Snubes)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that long periods of work kill thousands of people each year. The condition is likely to get worse in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as it is today.

In a global study of deaths linked to long working hours, a report published in the journal Enviroment International showed 745,000 people died from strokes and heart attacks.

Most cases relate to long working hours in 2016. Compared to 2000, that figure increased by 30 percent.

"Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health threat," said Maria Neira, director of the Department of Environment, Climate, Change and Health at who.

Armed with these findings, Neira continued, it wants to promote action and protection of workers.

The study is a joint study between WHO and the International Labour Organization. The results showed that the majority of victims (reached 72%) is a middle-aged man or older.

In some cases, the effect of death presents somewhat too late. It's decades after workers began enjoying retirement.

In addition, the study also showed that people in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific region were the most affected. Included in the region are China, Japan, and Australia.

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Overall, the study took data from 194 countries. It found that working 55 hours or more a week was directly related to a 35 percent risk of stroke. While the risk of death reaches 17 percent and comes from heart disorders.

The research was conducted in the period 2000 to 2016. Therefore, it has not included the latest data related to the pandemic. However, official WHO sources state that improving remote work and slowing down the world economy will increase the risk.

"Pandemics accelerate developers who can drive the trend of increasing working hours," who said.

Who also estimates that 9 percent of workers are forced to work long periods due to pandemics..

Therefore, cutting working time can also be a profitable solution for employers.  Considering there is already research that proves that short working hours are able to increase employee productivity.

"Not adding hours during the economic crisis is a smart choice," who's technical officer Frank Pega said, reported from WeForum.org, Friday, May 21.