LABOR

Working hours. On May 17, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) published a joint academic paper investigating the impact of longer working hours on heart disease.  The paper took surveys and databases from various countries and concluded that exposure to long working hours, i.e., greater than or equal to 55 hours per week, is an occupational risk factor, attributable to a large number of deaths due to heart attacks.

The review found sufficient evidence that working at least 55 hours a week is associated with an increased risk of both ischemic heart disease and stroke, compared with working between 35 and 40 hours a week. From 2000 to 2016, the number of deaths from heart disease due to working long hours increased by 42 percent, and those from stroke by 19 percent.

To counter this risk, the organizations proposed numerous proposals, both for governments, employers and workers. Of the recommendations to governments, it was stressed that governments should ratify and develop policies to implement International Labor Standards on working time, such as the establishment of standards on working time limits, daily and weekly rest periods, paid annual leave, protection of night workers and the principle of equal treatment for part-time workers.

From a business perspective the ILO and WHO recommend that employers, in collaboration with workers, organize working time to avoid negative health outcomes for workers in relation to shift work, night work, weekend work and flexitime arrangements.

Next Steps

The ILO and WHO published a joint paper studying the impact of longer hours worked on heart disease. The research concluded that there is sufficient evidence that working at least 55 hours per week is associated with an increased risk of both ischemic heart disease and stroke, compared to working between 35 and 40 hours per week. To combat this problem, the organizations recommend that governments, companies and workers take measures such as limiting working hours, daily rest periods and paid annual leave. Although the there is no binding nature to these recommendations, it is hoped the organization will work further on this issue and that this will have a long-term regulatory impact in the region.