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Usual Hours Worked
WORKING CONDITIONS
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Uses and Limitations

It differs from the standard weekly hours of work based on contractual arrangements. For example, a worker could have standard weekly hours of work of 42 hours, but whose weekly usual hours worked may be higher because they regularly work more than 42 hours a week.

It is used frequently to assess the quality of employment and well-being, due to its implication on workers’ health and safety. To identify groups with higher hours worked, the mean usual hours worked and distribution of hours worked are available for various demographic profiles.

It can also be used to provide a sense if people are engaged in work for extreme hours over a prolonged period. This measure of employed persons working excessive hours contributes to several international frameworks on measuring job quality.

Data on usual hours worked, including the proportion of employed residents who work excessive hours, are published in the annual Labour Force in Singapore report.

 

 

 

 

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