The International Labour Organization (ILO) has shed light on the significant disparities in average working hours across African countries, with some nations requiring longer working hours than others. According to the ILO's Hours of Work (Industry) Convention (No. 1) of 1919, a maximum standard working time of 48 hours per week and eight hours per day is considered an international norm. However, some sectors have significantly longer work hours, with profound implications for employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance.

The wholesale and retail trade sector leads in long work hours, with 48.8% of workers exceeding 48 hours per week. In contrast, public administration (20.3%), education (19.9%), and health services (19.2%) have the lowest proportions of employees working long hours. This disparity underscores the need for tailored policies to address the challenges posed by long work hours, ensuring healthier, more balanced working conditions across all industries.

Using ILO data, Visual Capitalist highlighted global variations in average weekly work hours per employee from 2021 to 2023, shaped by cultural, economic, and regulatory factors. The top and bottom five African countries by average work weeks are Uganda, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Angola, with the longest work hours, and Rwanda, Mauritius, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Comoros, with the shortest work hours.

Uganda tops the list with the longest work hours, averaging 50.3 hours per week. Sudan and Zimbabwe follow closely, with 49 and 48.1 hours, respectively. On the other hand, Rwanda boasts the shortest work hours, with an average of 29.9 hours per week. Mauritius and Madagascar also rank among the countries with shorter work weeks, averaging 35.2 and 36.6 hours, respectively.

Globally, the top 10 countries with the longest work weeks all exceeded 48 hours, with India leading the pack at 56 hours per week. The Asia-Pacific region dominates this list, with four countries - India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Cambodia - ranking among the top five. On the other end of the spectrum, European countries tend to have shorter work weeks, with the Netherlands averaging around 29.8 hours per week, making it one of the countries with the shortest work hours globally.

The structure of working hours plays a crucial role in shaping employees' personal lives and influencing organizational outcomes. According to Philippe Marcadent, Chief of the Conditions of Work and Employment Branch of the International Labour Office, working time also has significant implications for enterprises in terms of their performance, productivity, and competitiveness. "Decisions on working time issues can also have repercussions for the broader health of the economy, the competitiveness of industry, levels of employment and unemployment, the need for transport and other facilities, and the organization of public services," Marcadent noted.

iRecruiters Africa emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, stating that "the biggest obstacle to achieving work-life balance is the constraint of time, individual choices, and lifestyle." The recruiting firm notes that "individuals, organizations, or company owners must be purposeful in their decisions and priorities about how they use their time to enjoy and achieve work-life balance."

The disparities in average working hours across African countries highlight the need for policymakers and business leaders to prioritize employee well-being, productivity, and work-life balance. By understanding the cultural, economic, and regulatory factors that shape working hours, countries can develop tailored policies to address the challenges posed by long work hours, ensuring healthier, more balanced working conditions across all industries.