The structure of weekly working hours in Europe reveals a significant disparity that directly affects countries' quality of life and economic performance. Analysing the comparative data, we observe that the nations with the lowest weekly averages, such as the Netherlands (29 hours), Denmark and Norway (33 hours each), position themselves at the forefront of productivity, with figures reaching $76.8, $77.4 and $89.3 of GDP per hour respectively, accompanied by quality-of-life indices above 7.5 points. By contrast, FUCEIT's technical report highlights a worrying correlation in countries with extended working hours. In Greece, for example, with an average of 42 hours per week, the quality-of-life index stands at 5.4/10 and productivity at $37.8 per hour, while in countries such as Spain the level of work-related stress reported by workers rises to 23%, significantly above the European Union average of 22%. These indicators are essential to understanding why reducing working hours is not an isolated measure, but a systemic component that requires highly developed economies in order to mitigate unemployment and improve workers' well-being.
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