The Karnataka government is considering a proposal to extend working hours for tech employees to 14 hours per day and 70 hours per week. This comes on the heels of a significant backlash that led to the suspension of a bill mandating reservations for Kannadigas in private industries.
The proposed amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, has been met with strong resistance from employee and trade unions. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has expressed grave concerns, labeling the proposal as “inhuman” and a potential “attack on the working class.”
According to reports, the proposed bill seeks to adjust existing laws to allow IT, IT-enabled services (ITES), and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors to extend work hours beyond the current limit of 10 hours per day, including overtime. The new provision would permit up to 14 hours of work per day and 70 hours per week, with a cap of 125 hours over a three-month period.
Union leaders have vehemently opposed the move, arguing that it would lead to a normalization of grueling work schedules and further strain the already stressed workforce. They highlight that the IT sector is already plagued by physical and mental health issues, with studies showing a significant percentage of employees suffering from depression and other health problems. The World Health Organization and International Labour Organization have linked extended work hours to increased risks of stroke and heart disease.
The KITU has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his government to reconsider the proposal, warning that it could lead to a shift from a three-shift system to a two-shift system, potentially resulting in job cuts and exacerbating health issues among workers.
Labour Minister Santosh Lad has stated that the proposal is still under discussion and has not yet been finalized. The timing of the proposal, amid rising awareness about the impact of long work hours on productivity and health, has only added to the controversy. This debate is further fueled by statements from prominent figures like Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and former board member TV Mohandas Pai, who have previously advocated for long working hours in the tech industry.
As discussions continue, the proposal has sparked a broader conversation about work-life balance and employee rights in Karnataka’s thriving IT hub, Bengaluru.