By Yangyel Lhaden
Bhutan has drawn unexpected global attention following the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) latest global working hours report, which ranks the country among those with the longest average working hours in 2024.
Bhutan has drawn unexpected global attention following the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) latest global working hours report, which ranks the country among those with the longest ki h i 2024
Citing data from Bhutan’s 2022 Labour Force Survey (LFS), the report states that employed individuals in the country work an average of 54.4 hours per week, with 61 percent working 49 hours or more. This ranking has triggered national debate, particularly in light of Bhutan’s global image as a proponent of Gross National
Happiness (GNH).
The contrast is stark. Citizens and observers alike are questioning how Bhutan, a country deeply associated with holistic well-being, is ranked worst than other nations often criticised for overwork, such as Japan and South Korea. The question on many minds: how can countries with reputations for demanding work cultures rank better
than Bhutan?
Disparities and data inconsistencies
Critics have raised concerns about the validity of the ILO’s global rankings, citing discrepancies in data timelines. Bhutan’s data is drawn from 2022, while countries like Japan, Germany, and France — which reported lower working hours — used latest or more lenient datasets, in some cases from as early as 2019.
This undermines the fairness of direct international comparisons. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) acknowledged this issue but noted that Bhutan has not challenged
the ILO ranking, as the country is not yet a full member of the organization. A directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in 2024 restricted ofcial engagement with the ILO until membership is secured.
In previous years, the Department of Labour (DoL), acting as the ILO Observer representative, reviewed the annual ILO questionnaire related to labour data. The ILO itself stresses the importance of timely and accurate data submission, stating, “The timely, complete and accurate submission of ILO member States’ labour market
statistics to this annual inquiry is therefore essential for the continued international dissemination of your labour market data.”
MoICE Minister Namgyal Dorji explained: “Due to our current observer status, we lack access to technical assistance. As a result, we do not currently benet from direct technical support on internationally harmonised data collection and reporting standards.”
He said that Bhutan’s gures are compiled with limited support, which can skew how the country is perceived internationally.
However, he added that the focus should remain on addressing domestic labour market issues rather than chasing global rankings.
Bhutan’s Labour and Employment Act (LEA) 2007 allows a maximum of 48 regular working hours per week, plus up to 12 hours of overtime if fairly compensated — aligning with ILO standards. Therefore, the reported national average still falls within legal limits.
Nevertheless, Lyonpo said that working hour norms vary signicantly across countries, shaped by different economic and cultural contexts. “Direct international comparisons may not always provide a fully accurate reection of Bhutan’s specic realities,” he said.
The 2024 Labour Force Report presents a more updated picture, showing a national average of 50.26 working hours per week, with 43.34 percent of workers logging more than 49 hours — lower than the 2022 gures cited by the ILO.
Interestingly, in Bhutan, the agriculture sector reports the highest working hours. However, most agricultural workers are selfemployed, meaning they are less likely to be exploited compared to employees in formal industry or service sectors.
Still, long hours remain a reality, especially in the informal economy and private sector. In 2024–25, the DoL handled around 50 complaints in the hospitality sector alone related to unpaid overtime and unlawful terminations. Ofcials admit these are likely under-reported gures.
A DoL ofcial said that while monitoring in the civil service and corporate sectors is manageable, enforcement becomes difcult in private enterprises due to limited inspection capacity and workers’ fear of reprisal.
To address this, the DoL is planning a detailed study on wages and working hours, with proposals to introduce digital payment and attendance systems to better track employment conditions. Lyonpo said the department aims to strike a balance between protecting workers’ rights and maintaining a healthy business environment.
challenge. Formal schedules may state 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but real work patterns often include breaks, personal errands, or overtime. Some employees reportedly work up to 80 hours a week, according to the LFS.
