This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of laws to limit working hours from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Customer Needs
Some countries have introduced laws to limit working hours for employees.
Why are these laws introduced?
Do you think they are a positive or negative development?
An increasing number of nations have enacted laws to protect average working hours. In my opinion, these laws are meant to limit exploitive practices and they are advantageous if enforced well.
Lawmakers typically argue these reforms defend employees. Before labor laws existed, it was common for corporations to require long working days under extreme conditions. Modern stipulations that limit working hours are responding to these deeply-rooted historic concerns. For example, in many developing nations, the labor laws are often not strict, leading to so-called ‘sweatshops’ where employees work long hours in dangerous environments for little pay. This mistreatment has been exposed in the media and now citizens demand better treatment. The laws therefore establish basic guidelines to prevent employees from working excessive hours.
On the whole, these laws are positive as long as they are nuanced and enforced consistently. There are many countries where such laws have been passed but in practice they are not followed and workers have little recourse to report infractions. These laws must be strictly monitored including preventing employers from firing employees who make complaints. Moreover, there are possible exceptions. A factory worker, for example, should never be required to work too many hours as they are likely earning a low wage and putting their health at risk. However, many white collar workers, such as those at a start-up, may desire to work 90+ hour workweeks due to an overriding passion for a project. The law must discriminate between these dissimilar cases.
In conclusion, labor laws related to maximum working hours are meant to safeguard workers’ rights and are positive generally depending on their execution. It is important that governments propose laws they believe are enforceable and beneficial for the whole of society.
Analysis
1. An increasing number of nations have enacted laws to protect average working hours. 2. In my opinion, these laws are meant to limit exploitive practices and they are advantageous if enforced well.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Lawmakers typically argue these reforms defend employees. 2. Before labor laws existed, it was common for corporations to require long working days under extreme conditions. 3. Modern stipulations that limit working hours are responding to these deeply-rooted historic concerns. 4. For example, in many developing nations, the labor laws are often not strict, leading to so-called ‘sweatshops’ where employees work long hours in dangerous environments for little pay. 5. This mistreatment has been exposed in the media and now citizens demand better treatment. 6. The laws therefore establish basic guidelines to prevent employees from working excessive hours.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Stay focused on the same main idea.
- Finish by adding extra detail.
1. On the whole, these laws are positive as long as they are nuanced and enforced consistently. 2. There are many countries where such laws have been passed but in practice they are not followed and workers have little recourse to report infractions. 3. These laws must be strictly monitored including preventing employers from firing employees who make complaints. 4. Moreover, there are possible exceptions. 5. A factory worker, for example, should never be required to work too many hours as they are likely earning a low wage and putting their health at risk. 6. However, many white collar workers, such as those at a start-up, may desire to work 90+ hour workweeks due to an overriding passion for a project. 7. The law must discriminate between these dissimilar cases.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- For this one, you might include some of the positive and negative.
- Finish with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, labor laws related to maximum working hours are meant to safeguard workers’ rights and are positive generally depending on their execution. 2. It is important that governments propose laws they believe are enforceable and beneficial for the whole of society.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
An increasing number of nations have enacted laws to protect average working hours. In my opinion, these laws are meant to limit exploitive practices and they are advantageous if enforced well.
Lawmakers typically argue these reforms defend employees. Before labor laws existed, it was common for corporations to require long working days under extreme conditions. Modern stipulations that limit working hours are responding to these deeply-rooted historic concerns. For example, in many developing nations, the labor laws are often not strict, leading to so-called ‘sweatshops’ where employees work long hours in dangerous environments for little pay. This mistreatment has been exposed in the media and now citizens demand better treatment. The laws therefore establish basic guidelines to prevent employees from working excessive hours.
On the whole, these laws are positive as long as they are nuanced and enforced consistently. There are many countries where such laws have been passed but in practice they are not followed and workers have little recourse to report infractions. These laws must be strictly monitored including preventing employers from firing employees who make complaints. Moreover, there are possible exceptions. A factory worker, for example, should never be required to work too many hours as they are likely earning a low wage and putting their health at risk. However, many white collar workers, such as those at a start-up, may desire to work 90+ hour workweeks due to an overriding passion for a project. The law must discriminate between these dissimilar cases.
In conclusion, labor laws related to maximum working hours are meant to safeguard workers’ rights and are positive generally depending on their execution. It is important that governments propose laws they believe are enforceable and beneficial for the whole of society.
Answers
increasing growing
enacted laws pass regulations
protect average safeguard normal
meant supposed to be for
limit exploitive practices keep under control taking advantage of workers
advantageous positive
if enforced well assuming they are actively followed
lawmakers the government
reforms changes
defend safeguard
labor laws rules safeguarding workers
common prevalent
corporations companies
require need
under extreme conditions in bad working environments
modern stipulations new rules
responding addressing
deeply-rooted historic concerns worries from a long time in the past
developing nations poorer countries
strict severe
leading causing
so-called often termed
‘sweatshops’ factories where workers are mistreated
dangerous environments unsafe workplaces
little pay not much of a salary
mistreatment treated badly
exposed made people aware of it
demand better treatment ask strongly for fairer laws
establish basic guidelines put in place minimum rules
prevent stop
excessive too strong
on the whole overall
as long as assuming that
nuanced complex
enforced consistently everyone follows them all the time
passed enacted
in practice in reality
recourse way to complain
report infractions make complaints about breaking the rules
strictly monitored watched closely
preventing stopping
firing getting laid off
make complaints report a problem
possible exceptions potential cases outside the norm
factory worker person working in a factory
earning a low wage not making much money
putting their health at risk easy to get sick, hurt
white collar workers people with good office jobs
start-up new company
90+ hour workweeks really long hours
due to because of
overriding passion really strong desire
discriminate between know the different between
dissimilar cases different examples
maximum the most
safeguard protect
depending on in some cases
execution how they are done
propose laws suggest rules
enforceable can be enforced, followed
beneficial good
the whole of society everyone
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ
ɪˈnæktɪd lɔːz
prəˈtɛkt ˈævərɪʤ
mɛnt
ˈlɪmɪt ˈɛksplɔɪtɪv ˈpræktɪsɪz
ˌædvənˈteɪʤəs
ɪf ɪnˈfɔːst wɛl
ˈlɔːˌmeɪkəz
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
dɪˈfɛnd
ˈleɪbə lɔːz
ˈkɒmən
ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃənz
rɪˈkwaɪə
ˈʌndər ɪksˈtriːm kənˈdɪʃənz
ˈmɒdən ˌstɪpjʊˈleɪʃənz
rɪsˈpɒndɪŋ
ˈdiːpli-ˈruːtɪd hɪsˈtɒrɪk kənˈsɜːnz
dɪˈvɛləpɪŋ ˈneɪʃənz
strɪkt
ˈliːdɪŋ
ˈsəʊˈkɔːld
ˈswɛtˌʃɒps
ˈdeɪnʤrəs ɪnˈvaɪərənmənts
ˈlɪtl peɪ
mɪsˈtriːtmənt
ɪksˈpəʊzd
dɪˈmɑːnd ˈbɛtə ˈtriːtmənt
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ˈbeɪsɪk ˈgaɪdlaɪnz
prɪˈvɛnt
ɪkˈsɛsɪv
ɒn ðə həʊl
æz lɒŋ æz
nju(ː)ˈɑːnst
ɪnˈfɔːst kənˈsɪstəntli
pɑːst
ɪn ˈpræktɪs
rɪˈkɔːs
rɪˈpɔːt ɪnˈfrækʃənz
ˈstrɪktli ˈmɒnɪtəd
prɪˈvɛntɪŋ
ˈfaɪərɪŋ
meɪk kəmˈpleɪnts
ˈpɒsəbl ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
ˈfæktəri ˈwɜːkə
ˈɜːnɪŋ ə ləʊ weɪʤ
ˈpʊtɪŋ ðeə hɛlθ æt rɪsk
waɪt ˈkɒlə ˈwɜːkəz
ˈstɑːtʌp
90+ ˈaʊə ˈwɜːkwiːks
djuː tuː
ˌəʊvəˈraɪdɪŋ ˈpæʃən
dɪsˈkrɪmɪnɪt bɪˈtwiːn
ˌdɪˈsɪmɪlə ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈmæksɪməm
ˈseɪfgɑːd
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn
ˌɛksɪˈkjuːʃən
prəˈpəʊz lɔːz
ɪnˈfɔːsəbl
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl
ðə həʊl ɒv səˈsaɪəti
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
An i___________g number of nations have e_____________s to p_____________e working hours. In my opinion, these laws are m_______t to l___________________s and they are a________________s i_________________l.
L______________s typically argue these r_________s d________d employees. Before l____________s existed, it was c_________n for c_____________s to r__________e long working days u__________________________s. M_____________________s that limit working hours are r___________g to these d___________________________________s. For example, in many d_______________________s, the labor laws are often not s_______t, l_________g to s___________d ‘s_____________s’ where employees work long hours in d_____________________________s for l_________y. This m______________t has been e_________d in the media and now citizens d_______________________t. The laws therefore e_____________________s to p_________t employees from working e_____________e hours.
O_______________e, these laws are positive a__________s they are n________d and e______________________y. There are many countries where such laws have been p________d but i__________e they are not followed and workers have little r__________e to r___________________s. These laws must be s_____________________d including p___________g employers from f_______g employees who m__________________s. Moreover, there are p______________________s. A f__________________r, for example, should never be required to work too many hours as they are likely e______________________e and p_____________________________k. However, many w____________________s, such as those at a s_________p, may desire to work 9________________________s d________o an o____________________n for a project. The law must d_______________________n these d________________s.
In conclusion, labor laws related to m___________m working hours are meant to s____________d workers’ rights and are positive generally d______________n their e_________________n. It is important that governments p_____________s they believe are e_________________e and b______________l for t______________________y.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/american-immigration-service-slavery/555824/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)
- Do you work or are you a student?
- Do you like your current job?
- In the future, do you want to change jobs?
Writing Practice
Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:
In many countries, people are spending more time in their workplace.
Why is this?
Is this a negative or positive development?
its a tricky question because when you want to say why government pose such laws, you may unintentionally think about benefits and write the benefits for the first part of question. then for the second part when you want to say these laws are positive than you don’t have anything to write.
Excellent point, Sadeq, I hadn’t thought of that!
I suppose that is a common risk in cause/positive or negative questions.
s
a bit wonder about your body 2 in which you are supposed to prove why this reform is positive not about how this policy should be enforced.
Yes, I see what you mean.
I took the tactic of assuming they are inherently positive and then just pointed out the cases when they could be negative (not enforced, enforced too rigidly).
That strategy works find but you could also answer more directly why they are positive/negative – though you could have the issue where you basically just repeat the cause from body 1 in that case.
Yeah, I have the same wonder as well. I think the body 2 should talk about why this is positive and list the advantages.
It’s a slightly roundabout way of arguing that it is positive – it is positive if enforced in a certain way.