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it seems that most countries in Asia tend to be workaholic, how many hours per day do people work in average in the developed countries of Asia?
Japan
China
South Korea
Hong Kong
Singapore
Taiwan
Malasya
Logically, people should work more hours when their countries have less technology, but most of these countries are highly modernized, in your opinion why do most of these countries tend to work much more hours, then Europeans countries?
South Korea and Japan are way up there with heavy workloads and high suicide rates. From the time they enter school they study from early morning to late at night. When they are done with their daytime school, they go into a private "cram" school, known in South Korea as a hagwon. In Japan they are expected to stay after school and clean their classroom. Study is a crucial part of their lives and later, work. This leads many people to "snap" usually through suicide. In Japan they named a place "suicide forest" because of all the deaths that have occured there. It's a sad culture and sad way of life, the governments are taking small steps to try to lessen the work loads. Unfortunately the culture itself may not die out for many more years, but I truly hope something will be done to lessen the suffering of these hard working countries. As far as I know South Korea has the world's highest suicide rate.
In Japan they are expected to stay after school and clean their classroom. Study is a crucial part of their lives and later, work. This leads many people to "snap" usually through suicide.
It's the same in China.
In Chinese schools, classrooms are always cleaned by students. Some "bad students" skip their duties and the "good students" end up doing most of the work. The same thing in their later life.
It is culture. And in the end, the countries where people work harder are most likely to win.
Yeah, Europe seems to enjoy a good life, but 1) it is based on wealth accumulated in the past few centuries, self-created and by robbing. 2) the most lazy countries are already lagging behind with little productivity improvement and stagnant or deteriorating living standard.
Look at Japanese, Korean and Chinese cities. They are so dense and people have to fight all the time for limited resources, let it be a promotion position, or a seat on the bus. Children are told to compete before they can walk.
Of course there is a bit of stereotype here. Not all Asian cities are that workaholic. Shanghai and Hong Kong may be so, but Chengdu and Kunming definitely don't have this work-work-work culture and they are all very large cities (Chengdu is as big as Los Angeles).
China and Malaysia are usually not considere developed countries.
Why they work longer, it is traditional Asian culture. Hard-working is a good virtue. In Asian culture, rich people and elderly people still need to work instead of doing nothing. Completely doing nothing, long time of relaxation is viewed negatively.
And workers in Asia may not have enough rest and time for themselves, they don't like to work in very long hours but there may be urgent cases or deadlines to be met. In developing countries, workers' rights are not as good as in developed countries, comparatively low wage and long working hours are therefore common. People in Asia also work hard for the money which is important for survival or face in asian culture.
As for studying hard as a kid, it is the hope of almost every Asian parent for their children to excel in studies but only those more educated parents really have the expectations. Lowly educated parents do not really think it is a big deal if their children cannot goto a college due to lack of ability or money to pay for the college fees. Being a peasant or factory worker is very common in China, the country do not need college education for most of the jobs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ichig
in the developed countries of Asia?
Japan
China
South Korea
Hong Kong
Singapore
Taiwan
Malasya
Logically, people should work more hours when their countries have less technology, but most of these countries are highly modernized, in your opinion why do most of these countries tend to work much more hours, then Europeans countries?
Last edited by Liquidspirits; 10-17-2014 at 11:40 PM..
Europeans can get unemployment benefits and pensions. Asia countries lack social security, including the richer asian countries. Also, depending on government or charity is viewed negatively in Asia.
Inland China or Asia lack economic opportunities compartively, so have a more relax culture. The men there are viewed as not progressive, play majong and cards in the day, do not study hard. They are not desired by many fellow local women there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by botticelli
It is culture. And in the end, the countries where people work harder are most likely to win.
Yeah, Europe seems to enjoy a good life, but 1) it is based on wealth accumulated in the past few centuries, self-created and by robbing. 2) the most lazy countries are already lagging behind with little productivity improvement and stagnant or deteriorating living standard.
Look at Japanese, Korean and Chinese cities. They are so dense and people have to fight all the time for limited resources, let it be a promotion position, or a seat on the bus. Children are told to compete before they can walk.
Of course there is a bit of stereotype here. Not all Asian cities are that workaholic. Shanghai and Hong Kong may be so, but Chengdu and Kunming definitely don't have this work-work-work culture and they are all very large cities (Chengdu is as big as Los Angeles).
I've traveled to Asia a lot for business trips. I would say that Japan and S. Korea have the most workaholic culture, followed by Hong Kong.
My partners in Japan would work from 7:30 AM until 6:00 PM (or later) and then go out for drinks and dinner until 9-10 PM (or later) and then be back the next day, or go back to the office for an "all nighter", if there was a critical situation.
I like how they take their work seriously, and have great respect for having a job. Even they hold a professional demeanor in public service work, such as 'fast food" establishments.
They are generally groomed for work when they have jobs that serve the public.
They know serving the public is a strong source of jobs stability and personal integrity to be known as a good worker and to do good work.
These traits continue to make them ideal places where business moves to, even though it makes economic hardship in western countries that loose the jobs. The Asian people who get those jobs have no problem following the guidelines set forth within the job. They come to work, ready to work.
Unless we in American re-learn these traits, we will result to loose more jobs.
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As far as I know South Korea has the world's highest suicide rate.
