The World Health Organization said on Monday that long-term work is killing hundreds of people a year in a deteriorating trend that could intensify due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
In the first global study of the loss of life associated with prolonged work, the paper in the International Journal of the Environment showed that in 2016, 745,000 people died from a stroke and heart disease associated with prolonged work.
This was an increase of about 30% since 2000.
“Working 55 hours or more per week is a serious health hazard,” said Maria Neira, director of the WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.
“What we want to do with this information is promote more action, more protection of workers,” she said.
A joint study conducted by WHO and the International Labor Organization showed that most of the victims (72%) were male and were middle-aged or older.
It also showed that people living in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific – a WHO-defined region that includes China, Japan, and Australia – were the most affected.
Overall, the study – based on data from 194 countries – states that working 55 hours or more a week has a 35% higher risk of stroke and 17 deaths from ischemic heart disease compared to 35-40 hours.
The study covered the period 2000–2016, and therefore did not include the COVID-19 epidemic, but WHO officials said the global economic slowdown as a result of increased remote work and the coronavirus emergency increased the risk.
News Source: Reuters
