The global average working time stands at 43.9 hours per week.

The debate over how much people should work is no longer theoretical in the region. Amid reforms, legislative discussions, and labor market transformations, the landscape is divided: reduced working hours coexist with systems that still reach up to 48 hours per week.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the international standard has progressively moved toward a 40-hour workweek— a benchmark that some Latin American countries have already incorporated into their regulatory frameworks.

However, in most of the region, legal limits of up to 48 hours per week still persist.

Beyond what is established by law, actual hours worked vary significantly in some cases. On average, Latin America records around 40.2 working hours per week, although with notable differences across countries and sectors.

In Ecuador, for example, averages stand below that level at 34.4 hours worked, reflecting the gap between regulation and labor practice.

Several countries are moving toward shorter workweeks. Among them are Chile at 44 hours, with a gradual reduction toward 40; Colombia at 44 hours, with a legal target of 42 this year; Brazil at 44 hours, with active legislative debate; Cuba at 44 hours; El Salvador at 44 hours (39 for night shifts); Guatemala at 44 hours (day), 42 (mixed), and 36 (night); Honduras at 44 hours; and the Dominican Republic at 44 hours.

At the other end of the spectrum, a group of countries—including Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru—maintains the 48-hour weekly framework.

This situation, of course, presents nuances: actual average hours worked tend to be lower due to factors such as part-time employment or informality.

An analysis of the data reveals a region in transition. Although the average number of hours worked is around 40 per week, a significant proportion of workers still exceeds 48 hours. This places Latin America above the levels observed in high-income economies with more modern, dynamic, flexible, and formal labor markets.

The evolution of working hours remains closely linked to factors such as the structure of labor markets, informality, and public policy design. These variables shape both the implementation of reforms and their ultimate impact.

Photo of Leon Overweel in Unsplash