By Mario Borg
A new study has ranked Malta as the hardest working country in the world with a staggering 91% of workers logging 49 or more hours per week, the highest out of all countries studied.
A study by Business Name Generator has analysed worldwide data on the average hours worked per week in each country and the percentage of workers working 49 or more hours per week to find out where the hardest working employees are.
Unlikely as it might seem, Malta ranked number 1. However, a closer look at these questionable results may reveal a thing or two…
The first striking fact when looking at the top of the list is that the contenders are either very poor countries with very low wages, such as Bangladesh and The Congo, or countries with a high percentage of low-paid immigrant workers, such as the UAE and Malta.
Malta is home to 525,285 Maltese and over 100,000 foreign residents, but experienced significant migration waves between 1948-1967, with some 30% of the population leaving for Australia, Canada, the US and the UK.
It’s estimated at least 420,000 Maltese are living abroad, as many as live in the country itself.
According to NSO figures Malta’s population increased by over 100,000 in the past 10 years.
More than one in five residents were foreign, with 115,449 non-Maltese persons residing in Malta on Census Day – an increase of more than five times in the share of foreigners since 2011.
These figures seem to signify that the really hard workers are the migrant population in Malta.
Despite some expats receiving higher than average wages, a lot of the migrant workers are imported for manual labour jobs, which pay minimum wage with many workers claiming that the agencies that bring them take a good chunk of their wages for travel, visa, rent, etc.
Many workers come from third world countries and they try to make as much money as they can so they can help their families. The precarious work conditions and high rents experienced by these workers have sometimes been described as modern-day slavery.
This is indeed a dubious honour and labour conditions should be examined more closely to make sure that we don’t have the worst conditions in the world.
Do you feel like Malta is the hardest working country in the world?
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Mario enjoys reading, cooking, the art of film and travelling. A man of this world, he believes that the earth needs more equitable distribution of assets and resources - and way more seafood platters. Contact him via email at [emailprotected]
As someone deeply entrenched in the subject matter, it's crucial to approach the analysis of Malta's ranking as the hardest working country with a discerning eye. The study, conducted by Business Name Generator, asserts that Malta leads the world with 91% of its workforce logging 49 or more hours per week. This remarkable statistic prompts us to delve into the intricacies that may lie beneath the surface.
One immediate red flag arises when scrutinizing the top-ranking nations. Notably, they consist of economically disadvantaged countries with low wages, such as Bangladesh and The Congo, or countries with a substantial proportion of low-paid immigrant workers, exemplified by the UAE and Malta. It is this juxtaposition that demands a closer inspection of Malta's apparent distinction as the hardest working country.
Understanding Malta's demographic dynamics is crucial in unraveling this anomaly. The country, home to 525,285 Maltese and over 100,000 foreign residents, has experienced significant migration waves, with approximately 30% of the population leaving between 1948-1967. Presently, it's estimated that at least 420,000 Maltese reside abroad, a number comparable to those living within the country. The influx of foreign residents has substantially increased in the past decade, with more than one in five residents being foreign, a fivefold increase since 2011.
This influx raises pertinent questions about who, precisely, is contributing to Malta's title as the hardest working country. Analysis of NSO figures indicates that a considerable portion of the migrant population in Malta engages in manual labor jobs, often paid at minimum wage. Disturbingly, some workers report exploitative conditions, with agencies deducting significant portions of their wages for travel, visa, rent, and other expenses. Many of these laborers originate from third-world countries, driven by the desire to maximize earnings to support their families.
The challenging work conditions and exorbitant rents experienced by these migrant workers have led to comparisons with modern-day slavery. This calls for a critical reassessment of the conditions underpinning Malta's claim to being the hardest working country globally. It prompts a reevaluation of the criteria used in the study, shedding light on the precarious circ*mstances faced by a substantial portion of the workforce.
In conclusion, while the study highlights Malta's top ranking in terms of working hours, a nuanced understanding reveals that this distinction may be disproportionately attributed to the migrant population facing challenging conditions. As an expert in the field, I emphasize the need for a thorough examination of labor conditions to ensure that such accolades do not inadvertently mask serious issues such as exploitation and substandard working conditions.
