The Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions has released data from its study that has highlighted the city’s culture of long working hours. The study of 564 working-age employees conducted between mid-March to mid-April this year, found that on average, two-thirds of employees in the city are working 44 hours a week.
The majority of respondents indicated that they are enduring long working hours with 35% of them averaging over fifty hours a week whilst 5% work more than 75 hours a week. The extended hours are having a knock-off effect on workers’ personal lives as more than half indicated that they always experience fatigue when they return home from work. Over a third also responded that they are unable to attend social gatherings with their families or friends due to a lack of energy when returning home from the workplace.
The Federation’s study also noted the impact the transition to home working as a result of the COVID pandemic has had on workers with many now working longer hours and having difficulty distinguishing between their home and personal lives.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
