It’s probably safe to say that Filipino work culture doesn’t really encourage work-life balance. If we still have doubts about this, a recent survey by the global human resource group Remote confirms our suspicions.

In its Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024, Remote explored the different variables that make up a worker’s life, pulling data from the top 60 countries in gross domestic product (GDP). These include components like percentage of wage, healthcare system, and minimum wage based on United States Dollars per hour. Unfortunately, in the Philippines’ case, it was ranked 59^th out of 60 regarding work-life balance.

Scoring just 27.46 points, out of the possible 100, the country only trails Nigeria, which scored 16.5. Workers in the Philippines work an average of 40.63 hours per week and are only paid an abysmal wage of $1.45 per hour. Our happiness index score was found to be at 6.04 while our ranking for inclusivity for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ (LGBTQ+) community was 57 out of 100.

Comparing our standings with our Southeast Asian neighbors, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia ranked 26^th, 37^th, 39^th, 43^rd, and 47^th, respectively, in the Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024.

Remote adds that such factors are crucial to ensuring employee well-being. Improving such conditions may help increase retention rates and attract elite candidates.

Back in 2020, the Global Rights Index by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) noted the Philippines for being named one of the top 10 dangerous places for workers.

According to ITUC, the world’s largest trade union federation, “Union members were particularly at risk of violence, intimidation, and murder. Employers’ tactics to label unions as “subversive organizations”, in a process commonly known as “red-tagging”, exposed their members to violence and repression.”

Esquire Philippines

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