We have forgotten to rest, stop and take a walk because life forces us to constantly run, said Independent Croatian Trade Unions (NHS) president Kresimir Sever.
Workers are frequently forced to work two jobs, often undeclared, and have to be available to employers all day and everywhere, he said.
Although wise men used to say that work frees or humanises man, today we are in a situation in which we lose our identity through work because we work too much, said Sever.
Profit rules the world, jobs move from developed countries to cheaper labour markets where millions of poor and poorly educated workers are willing to work all day for a miserly wage, the discussion heard.
The result is big competition which cuts the price of labour, a change in life habits due to the need of both managers and workers to work increasingly longer, pressure on shops to work on Sundays and holidays, and increasingly less time for rest.
With a total of 31 days of annual leave and holidays Croatia is not at the top of the lest of states whose citizens work the least. Burkina Faso has 44 days of annual leave and holidays, Austria 43 and France 41.
This refutes employers' claims that Croatians work too little, said Sever, adding that employers should encourage employees' loyalty and work ethics by showing understanding for their family needs.
The round-table debate was organised by NHS, the European centre for workers' issues, and the Centre for the Promotion of the Social Teaching of the Church.