A year after Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy suggested that young professionals should work 70 hours a week, IT companies in Karnataka have taken a significant step by proposing an extension of employee working hours to 14 hours a day. This proposal has been submitted to the state government, and officials are considering amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, according to sources from India Today.
Currently, labor laws allow for a maximum of 12 hours of work per day, which includes 10 hours of regular work and 2 hours of overtime. The new proposal from the IT sector aims to legally extend the workday to 14 hours, combining 12 hours of standard work with an additional 2 hours of overtime.
The IT firms’ proposal states that employees in the IT, IT-enabled services (ITeS), and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors may need to work more than 12 hours a day, with a cap of 125 hours over any three-month period. This request is part of a broader effort to enhance productivity and meet the growing demands of the industry.
The Siddaramaiah government has already held initial discussions on this matter. While no final decision has been made, further deliberations are expected soon, sources indicated.
However, the proposal has faced significant opposition from the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU). The union argues that extending work hours will result in job losses, as companies may shift from a three-shift system to a two-shift system, potentially reducing the workforce by one-third.
KITU has also raised concerns about the health implications of extended working hours. They cited studies indicating that 45% of IT sector employees face mental health issues such as depression, while 55% suffer from physical health problems. The union believes that increasing working hours will exacerbate these issues, negatively affecting employees’ well-being.
“The report of KCCI highlights significant health impacts on employees in the IT sector. Extending working hours will further aggravate these problems,” the union stated.
The employees’ union has urged the government to view employees as human beings with rights and not as machines. They called on the Siddaramaiah administration to reconsider the proposal and avoid implementing changes that could harm the workforce.
The debate over extending work hours is part of a larger conversation about work-life balance and the demands of the modern workplace. Proponents argue that longer hours could boost productivity and meet industry needs, while opponents warn of the potential for increased stress, burnout, and health issues among workers.
As the state government continues to evaluate the proposal, the outcome will have significant implications for Karnataka’s IT sector and its employees. The decision will also set a precedent for how labor laws adapt to the evolving demands of the industry. For now, the issue remains contentious, with both sides awaiting the government’s next move.
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