OECD: Men in Turkey work longer, skip domestic work
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBULMay 05, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
May 05, 2015 12:00 am
A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that employees in Turkey have far longer working hours compared to those in 34 other OECD countries.
The Better Life Index by the international body includes a work-life balance section focusing on how workers find time between work and daily life. People in Turkey work 1,855 hours a year, well above the OECD average of 1,765 hours. The report stated 43 percent of employees work very long hours compared to the average 9 percent in OECD member countries, with men working more hours than women.
The report said the distribution of tasks in Turkish families still confined to men working long hours while women or housewives carry out domestic work. It added that men spend 116 minutes per day cooking and other domestic work such as cleaning and caring for children, less than the OECD average of 141 minutes.
Women's unemployment or being restricted to the task of domestic work in their capacity as housewives is a major challenge for Turkey, and the government seeks to increase women's participation in the workforce. Child care is among the main obstacles for women to join the workforce, as often neither parent can afford to stop working. Earlier this month, the government launched a project to provide assistance in this regard. It offers funds to cover babysitter fees for working mothers' children.
Turkey also secured the bottom spot in the OECD report on time devoted to leisure and personal care with 13.42 hours compared to the 15 hours of time on average devoted to these activities in other countries.
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