Malaysia has been ranked the second worst country for work-life balance among the 60 nations with the highest gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide.

The ranking comes from a study conducted by Remote, a human resource company that connects employers with international talent. The study, which analyzed data in March 2023, evaluated nine key factors: statutory annual leave days, minimum statutory sick pay, maternity leave days, percentage of wage for maternity leave, minimum wage, healthcare, happiness index, average weekly working hours, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

"The aim of this study is to accurately reflect each country's life-work balance, reimagining the concept of 'work-life balance' to emphasize how businesses prioritize life over work," Remote explained.

Malaysia received a score of 27.51 out of 100, with an average workweek of 40.8 hours and a minimum wage of USD 1.07 (about RM5.04) per hour.

In comparison, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, and the UAE offer the most statutory leave days, with 53, 40, 43, and 40 days respectively.

Nigeria is the only country ranked lower than Malaysia, with just five statutory leave days, 40.8 weekly working hours, and a minimum wage of USD 0.43 (around RM2.02) per hour.

"Employees in Mexico, Malaysia, and Nigeria are the most overworked, each averaging over 40 hours per week, including both full- and part-time workers," Remote noted.

Countries with the best work-life balance include New Zealand, Spain, France, Australia, and Denmark.

The top-ranked Asian countries are Taiwan (16th place), Singapore (19th place), and South Korea (32nd place). Japan is ranked 38th, with an average of 30.7 weekly working hours.