About 60 per cent of Hong Kong workers do not have a five-day week, although one third say the measure is key to striking a good balance between work and life, a survey shows.
The survey, released yesterday, also shows the average worker toils for 51.3 hours a week - 25 per cent more than the standard 40 hours set down by the International Labour Organisation.
The study, commissioned by Community Business from the University of Hong Kong, interviewed 1,519 full-time workers between July and August and found that half the respondents worked between 41 and 50 hours a week, with a further 25 per cent working between 51 and 60 hours.
Of the 61 per cent who said they worked overtime, about 80 per cent said they had to because there was too much work to do.
But about 25 per cent said they stayed in the office much longer than required because they did not want to be the first to leave the office or leave before their boss did.
Sixty per cent said they did not have a five-day working week. Only 28 per cent said they did, while a further 9 per cent said their employers would consider adopting a five-day working week.