The limits of the body!

No one can work effectively when their physical condition is constantly deteriorating. No production system can be sustainable when the quality of labor is eroded by time. The proposal by National Assembly representatives to reduce working hours from 48 to 44 hours per week, expected to be implemented from 2026, is not just about time management, but also a reminder of the limits of the worker's physical endurance.

On average, workers in manufacturing companies work between 54 and 60 hours per week.

In particular, for hundreds of thousands of workers in industrial zones in Vinh Phuc province, this is not just a wish, but a vital necessity.

In the province's 9 industrial zones and 13 industrial clusters, the workforce of hundreds of thousands of workers continues to operate at a high speed and under immense pressure.

It's common for a worker to work 9-10 hours a day, not including overtime or weekend shifts. On average, each worker in industrial zones and clusters works 54-60 hours per week, including overtime.

That's not even including time spent commuting, caring for family, recovering physically... things that are almost always "cut short" in exchange for a meager salary to live on.

With such intensity, the concern is not only the prolonged fatigue, but also the risk of physical and mental exhaustion for the workers. They may still come to the factory today and work the full number of hours.

But the truth is, their bodies are gradually becoming exhausted and turning against them with clinical manifestations, instead of speaking up for rest.

The proposal to reduce working hours to 44 hours per week in the private sector, if implemented, would not only improve working conditions but also represent a humane step forward, acknowledging the biological and psychological limitations of human beings.

This confirms that workers are not machines. And a modern, humane production system cannot operate in a state of depleted health.

For private businesses, especially local small and medium-sized enterprises, concerns are understandable. Reducing working hours means reducing the time needed to produce goods, which in turn increases the risk of higher costs if productivity is not improved. This concern is justified, especially in a volatile market where the competitiveness between domestic and FDI businesses remains significantly different.

However, if we only focus on the "the more you work, the better" principle, we will overlook a crucial aspect of modern management: labor productivity is not simply the total number of hours worked, but the actual quality and efficiency of each hour worked.

In reality, working continuously for long hours does not necessarily lead to increased productivity. On the contrary, after a certain point, both the body and mind become fatigued, and performance begins to decline.

A worker might be present for 10 hours at the factory, but if they are tired and unfocused during the last 3 hours, that time is almost meaningless and can even lead to mistakes and accidents, causing far greater losses than the cost of overtime pay.

Research from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has shown that when working hours exceed 48 hours per week, productivity tends to decline, while the risk of workplace injuries and occupational diseases increases significantly.

Therefore, increasing working hours does not necessarily mean increased labor productivity – it's an unsustainable trade-off. Conversely, when workers are given adequate rest and rejuvenation, they will work more focused, make fewer mistakes, and most importantly, feel more engaged with their jobs.

Some large businesses in the province have begun to recognize this. Instead of pushing for overtime, some FDI enterprises in industrial parks such as Honda, Piaggio, Compal... are applying flexible shift arrangements, supporting employees with mid-week breaks or rotating shifts to avoid overload; they are investing in optimized production processes, applying machinery to repetitive, high-intensity tasks; and at the same time organizing training to improve workers' skills to save operating time.

That is the right approach: investing in people to improve quality, instead of over-exploiting their physical strength.

Reducing working hours, from this perspective, is not only a humane policy but also a strategic choice to enhance long-term competitiveness. Businesses that understand this early and act early will have the advantage in the new era of the labor market.

We cannot have a healthy, loyal, and creative workforce if they are forced to work under prolonged periods of overwork. The limits of the body are real. And reducing working hours is the most practical way to respect those limits, preserve today's workforce, and invest in the quality of tomorrow's growth.

Text and photos: Hoang Cuc

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/130103/Gioi-han-cua-co-the