Some countries have introduced a law to limit working hours for employees. Why is this law introduced? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development?

There are countries in the world such as USA, Canada, Australia and many more where a person cannot work for more than 40 hours a week. In my opinion, it is a positive development. In the following paragraphs, I shall discuss why this law was introduced and my arguments to support my views.

This law was mainly introduced with a view to protecting the economic rights of the workers, and preventing exploitation. It is seen that in places where there is no such law, employees are exploited and instead of a normal working from 9am to 5pm, they are made to sit in offices from 9am to 9pm at no extra pay. Many other benefits of this law such as improvement in the physical and mental health of the employees and better family relations automatically followed.

This law is beneficial because, in this fast moving world of today, people have become workaholics. In order to satisfy their material desires, they are forgetting to draw a line between work and family. If working hours are fixed, then they have enough time for their family life and leisure. Secondly, overworking leads to stress and can lead to nervous breakdown in extreme cases. People also find time for their regular exercise if working hours are fixed.

Furthermore, having a limit on working hours also helps solve the problem of unemployment. More number of people working for a fixed number of hours is better than lesser number of people working more number of hours. What is more, it has been proved by researches that having a limit on the working hours, increases the output and productivity of employees. This could be a win-win situation for both, the employer and employee. Finally, it can be said that chances of exploitation of employees is much less if there is a limit on the working hours.  

Some people oppose this law by saying that it is an infringement of rights. They say that if a person has the ability to work more, he should be allowed to work. Sometimes a person may need more money for his personal needs and so it is unfair to not let him work more. Nonetheless, it has been seen that in countries where such laws are there, people have a better life, better working conditions, lesser degree of unemployment and better productivity of employees.

To put it in a nutshell, I pen down saying that, this law was imposed in the benefit of employees and employers and it has many advantages.