WHO and ILO report 745,000 deaths linked to long working hours
A landmark report from the WHO and ILO identifies long working hours as a major occupational health crisis. Experts are now debating how wage increases and stricter regulation could mitigate these fatal risks.
New data released this week show that the global toll of overwork is far larger than previously thought. The World Health Organization and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimate that in 2016 745,000 people died from heart‑related events or stroke after clocking 55 hours or more each week. The scale of the figure – comparable to the yearly deaths from some infectious diseases – has reignited calls for tougher limits on the workweek, especially as households grapple with rising living costs.
For workers in the United Kingdom the story is two‑fold. On the one hand, the WHO/ILO analysis highlights a hidden health burden that is not reflected in typical cost‑of‑living calculations. On the other, a wave of wage increases across the retail and fast‑food sectors is reaching the same employees who may be logging the longest hours.
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Why the estimate matters now
The 745,000 deaths figure supersedes earlier, more modest estimates of occupational risk and places long working hours as “the occupational risk factor with the largest disease burden” worldwide. Health ministries, including the NHS, are already reviewing occupational health guidelines, and unions are demanding stricter enforcement of maximum‑hour rules.
At the same time, the UK’s cost‑of‑living crisis – driven by soaring energy bills, food price inflation and a tight rental market – has pushed many to take on extra shifts. The Cost of Living section has chronicled how families are forced to stretch limited incomes, often by adding overtime.
Working‑time norms around the world
Across the globe, statutory limits vary dramatically. The Wikipedia entry on working time notes that “standard working hours of countries worldwide are around 40 to 44 hours per week – but not everywhere: from 35 hours per week in France to up to 60 hours per week in nations such as Bhutan.” In the United Kingdom the legal framework caps the average week at 48 hours, yet many industries routinely exceed that limit.
Historical trends show a long‑term decline in hours worked. In the United States, average weekly hours fell from over 60 hours in the late 19th century to around 33 hours today. Europe leads the reduction, with the Netherlands already averaging fewer than 30 hours per week as of the mid‑2000s.
From the factory floor to the checkout lane
Retail giants have responded to labour shortages by raising pay. According to a 2026 industry briefing, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and John Lewis all announced wage uplifts for store assistants. The briefing notes that “from April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over rises to £12.71 per hour,” while the Real Living Wage sits at £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London.
Supermarket chains are not the only employers adjusting remuneration. A recent Breakroom survey of fast‑food staff shows that the Real Living Wage is the benchmark many claim to meet, with a cited rate of £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80 in London. While the data does not disclose exact employer compliance, it illustrates a growing expectation that wages keep pace with living costs.
These pay rises matter because they influence how many hours employees can afford to work. Higher hourly rates can reduce the need for multiple jobs, potentially curbing the exposure to the 55‑hour thresholds identified by the WHO/ILO.
What the numbers say
| Metric | Global context | UK snapshot (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths linked to long hours (2016) | 745,000 | Not disaggregated by country |
| Workers exposed to ≥55 h/week (2016) | — (estimate: one in ten globally) | Data not specified |
| Legal weekly limit (UK) | 48 h average | 48 h average |
| National Living Wage (2026) | £12.71/h (21 y+) | £12.71/h (21 y+) |
| Real Living Wage (2026) | £13.45/h (national) / £14.80/h (London) | £13.45/h (national) / £14.80/h (London) |
Expert commentary and differing angles
Public health analysts stress that the WHO/ILO estimate “does not imply that every extra hour causes a fatal event, but that the aggregate burden of long work is measurable.” Labour economists, however, argue that the figure must be seen alongside economic pressures that compel workers to exceed legal limits. A senior analyst at a UK think‑tank warned that “without stronger enforcement, wage hikes alone will not erase the health risk of overwork.”
Employers in the retail and fast‑food sectors counter that higher pay is “the engine of great service” and that “pay has to reflect that – especially as wage floors rise and competition for staff intensifies,” echoing statements from supermarket leadership. These comments highlight a tension: businesses view wage competition as a way to attract staff, while health officials view overtime as a public‑health hazard.
What to watch next
- June 2026: The UK Department for Business and Trade is slated to publish revised guidance on maximum weekly hours for high‑risk sectors.
- July 2026: Labour unions plan a coordinated campaign demanding statutory limits on overtime pay and mandatory rest periods.
- September 2026: The WHO is expected to release a follow‑up report examining whether the 2016 death estimate has changed in light of recent wage reforms.
For households juggling rent, energy bills and grocery costs, the intersection of working hours and wages is no longer an abstract policy debate. As the government weighs tighter hour caps and businesses negotiate pay ladders, the lives of millions – and the health of a nation – hang in the balance.
