- Bhutanese workers face the longest work week in the world, averaging 54.4 hours.
- Overwork is widespread in the Himalayan country, affecting 61% of its population.
- A hotel worker from Bhutan told BI that she regularly works 112 hours a week, but she’s used to it.
The picturesque Kingdom of Bhutan, nestled between China and India, is widely recognized for its unique approach to economic development – prioritizing Gross National Happiness over GDP.
In practice, however, many Bhutanese workers have little time to pursue happiness. The small country leads the ranking for the average number of working hours in a week.
According to the International Labor Organization, Bhutanese workers work an average of 54.4 hours per week, far more than the 38-hour average in the US.
Bhutan also has the world’s largest share of employed people working more than 48 hours a week, the data said – the level the World Bank considers overwork.
This covers 61% of Bhutan’s workforce, the ILO said, compared to 13% in the US.
Long hours, little rest
It may come as a surprise – the tiny Buddhist kingdom is often seen as a tranquil paradise of mountains and temples.
Bhutanese workers challenged that impression, telling Business Insider that they feel compelled to spend most of their waking hours at work.
According to the World Bank report on Bhutan’s labor market, published earlier this year, overwork is particularly prevalent in the country’s private sector, particularly in family businesses, construction, transport and hospitality.
Bhutan has the longest working weeks in the world according to the International Labor Organization. Eric Lafforgue/Art in All of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
Hours after overtime, 22-year-old Ten Choezim joined a video call from the kitchen of the hotel where she works in Thimphu, the capital.
Choezim and other workers in this article gave their real names but asked that their workplaces not be identified for fear of retaliation.
She told Business Insider that working beyond her contracted 12-hour shift is normal for her. She often clocks 16-hour days and regularly clocks in at 112-hour weeks, she said.
Once, she said, she worked 16-hour shifts for three weeks without a day off.
“I had pain, back pain, my legs hurt,” she said. “Mentally, I couldn’t speak well.”
Although she often feels exhausted by her work, Choezim saw few alternatives.
“After a while I got used to it,” she said, noting that she wouldn’t be able to live there if she worked less or quit her job.