Why Singapore’s Official 44-Hour Work Week Sparks Debate Despite Many Employees Working Even Longer
A discussion on Reddit has reignited debate over Singapore’s employment laws after one user questioned why the country’s standard working week remains at 44 hours when many other developed economies have adopted a 40-hour benchmark.
The post compared Singapore with countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China, arguing that while employees in those nations may frequently work overtime in practice, their employment laws generally recognise a 40-hour work week, with overtime compensation kicking in beyond that threshold.
The user also shared personal experience from a work assignment in Japan, claiming that any overtime exceeding 40 hours required managerial approval and was paid accordingly. Upon returning to Singapore, however, they said overtime was no longer compensated in the same way.
The discussion quickly attracted more than a hundred upvotes, with many commenters sharing their own experiences of working well beyond their official hours.
Many Say Reality Is Far Beyond 44 Hours
Several users pointed out that while Singapore’s Employment Act sets a maximum contractual working week of 44 hours for employees covered by the legislation, many professionals regularly work far more.
One commenter joked that they had never worked only 44 hours in three decades of employment, while others estimated that a typical work week for office staff often stretches to between 50 and 60 hours.
Some described leaving the office well after their scheduled finishing time because workloads continued to increase despite limited manpower. Others noted that managerial employees generally do not receive overtime pay, making extended working hours commonplace.
Another commenter said that after becoming a parent, they deliberately began leaving work on time each day to avoid being late for childcare collection, despite previously staying back almost every evening.
Company Culture Makes a Big Difference
Not everyone reported long working hours.
One Reddit user contrasted their experience at a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) with life at a multinational corporation (MNC). They claimed their previous employer regularly expected employees to work between 50 and 80 hours a week during busy periods, with managers sending work requests outside office hours.
After moving to an MNC, they described a much more flexible environment where staff were trusted to manage their own schedules, often working closer to 30 to 35 productive hours weekly as long as their responsibilities were completed.
Others added that many companies officially operate from 9am to 6pm, which includes an unpaid lunch break, resulting in approximately 40 actual working hours rather than 44. However, they argued that staying back after official hours effectively pushes the real work week much higher.
Debate Over Employment Law Continues
The thread also touched on whether Singapore should eventually move towards a 40-hour work week, with some users questioning why discussions about four-day work weeks continue when the country’s legal framework still allows for a longer standard work week.
Others pointed out that neighbouring countries have different legal limits, with one commenter noting that Malaysia’s standard work week is currently 45 hours, while another remarked that some regional jurisdictions still permit even longer working hours.
As with many online discussions about work-life balance, opinions were divided. While some blamed company culture rather than legislation, others argued that reducing the legal work week could encourage healthier working habits and improve employees’ quality of life.
The discussion reflects a broader conversation in Singapore about balancing productivity, competitiveness and employee well-being, especially as more companies introduce flexible working arrangements and hybrid work policies.