How many hours do Japanese works? (2023)

How many hours do Japanese work per day?

According to the Japanese Labor Law, only 8 hours a day, or 40 hours a week, are allowed. If Japanese companies wish to extend their employee's working hours, they must first conclude special treaties to get acceptance from the government, per Labor Standards Act No. 36.

In 2021, the average number of working hours recorded by employees in Japan was about 136.1 hours per month.

Overtime in Japan

Legally, considering that you're working a regular full-time job, any work that you do once you finish your 8-hour day or 40-hour week is overtime work.

Japanese husbands show their love by working hard

Instead, the weekend is considered sacred family time, and it's rare to find Japanese working on a Saturday or a Sunday. Although the number of “career women” in Japan is rising, it's still typical for most Japanese mothers to stay at home.

Japan. The nation that has always talked of work efficiency and quality, sighed towards the four-day work week by urging firms to adopt the pattern. It was in June 2021 that Japan government started an initiative that asked companies to start a four-day workweek with an aim to improve the nation's work-life balance.

According to a survey conducted in 2021, people in Japan slept on average 471 minutes per night, equaling about seven hours and 51 minutes. The average sleeping time on weekdays was slightly lower.

Japanese work culture has been highly criticized for putting unbearable amounts of work-related stress and tension upon the employee. The Japanese word for death from overwork, “karoshi,” has been around since the 1970s (Question Japan, 2020).

The Japanese have a word for a phenomenon that distinguishes Japanese work culture: Karoshi (過労死). This word means “death from overwork.” Since the oil crisis of 1973, the country's labor restructurings have forged labor environments where working more than 70 hours per week is seen as “normal” and even honorable.

There are three causes of long working hours of Japanese male workers; (a) the membership-based employment system; (b) their attitude toward work; (c) fulfilling selfish requests from customers.

A growing list of Japanese companies have opened the door for employees to work four days a week, instead of five, offering them more flexibility so they can improve their work-life balance to meet responsibilities at home or acquire new skills outside of their workplace.

Do Chinese work 12 hours a day?

The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule practiced by some companies in the People's Republic of China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; i.e. 72 hours per week.

Both the 12-hour and 24-hour notations are commonly used in Japan. The 24-hour notation is commonly used in Japan, especially in train schedules.