In Japan, great controversy has arisen over workers doing excessive overtime. There are no laws on the issue in that country, but I hope that they don’t fall into the trap of cutting overtime – which merely paves the way for casual labour, as we are finding out now. 

Cutting overtime cuts workers earnings, while professionals and the more privileged can remain upwardly mobile. The erosion of public service jobs as we knew them, in tandem with the weakening of overtime, has led to much greater social inequality in the Eurozone.

Patrick Confrey

Rathfarnham, Dublin 14