90-hour work week debate: Here's how India compares with US, UK, Germany and other countries on average working hours

90-hour work week debate: According to the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday, January 31 ahead of the Union Budget 2025, India has tied with Germany, Vietnam, and UK in terms of the average weekly working hours at the highest level of 48 hours. 

Malaysia stands at the second spot, with an average weekly working hours of 45, and Singapore is third, with an average of 44 hours per week. Further, the USA, South Korea, Japan, and Indonesia are tied at 40 hours per week.

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Elista, a consumer durables and smart accessories brand, commented on today's economic survey data, “A 90-hour work week is unsustainable and counterproductive. Productivity is driven by focus and efficiency, not long hours. Overworking leads to burnout, reduced creativity, and declining work quality."

"A balanced work-life approach enables employees to recharge and deliver their best. Employees must receive significant overtime pay, wellness support, and compensatory time off if such hours are unavoidable. Flexible schedules, mental health resources, and family support programs would be essential to ensure their well-being and long-term engagement," it added.

D-Street analysts and industry experts have picked sides for or against the notion of the 90-hour work week debate. From Samir Arora, Harsh Goenka, and Devina Mehra to Rajiv Bajaj, India Inc stalwarts have given their take on the current heated debate on work-life balance.

While Devina Mehra, Rajiv Bajaj and Harsh Goenka went against the L&T chief's remark of working 90 hours per week, Helios Capital's Samir Arora supported the idea of putting in long hours at the workplace, especially in the beginning or initial stages of the career, across most of the sectors. 

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L&T Chairman Sparks 90-Hour Week Debate

Earlier this month, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subrahmanyan sparked an online debate by advocating a 90-hour work week and suggesting employees should even give up Sundays. A video of Subrahmanyan calling for staffers to work 90 hours a week if they have “to be on top of the world” has sparked heated debate on social media platforms. 

The clip re-ignited the work-life balance debate that enveloped Infosys founder Narayan Murthy's calls for a 70-hour work week last year. “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife, and how long can the wife stare at the husband? Get to the office and start working. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier because I work on Sundays,” the L&T chairman could be heard saying in the now-viral clip.

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