‘Inhuman’: Karnataka IT firms Propose 14-hour Workday, Employees Oppose 

Karnataka: IT firms in Karnataka have submitted a proposal to the state government demanding an extension of employee working hours to 14 hours. This proposal has faced strong opposition from employees, who have called it inhuman, due to concerns about health issues and potential layoffs. 

The proposal suggests that "employees in the IT/ITeS/BPO sector may be required or allowed to work more than 12 hours a day and not exceeding 125 hours in three continuous months."

The state government has been considering amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. IT companies have proposed including their request in the amendment, which would legally extend work hours to 14 hours (12 hours + 2 hours overtime). At present, labor laws have permitted up to 12 hours (10 hours + 2 hours overtime) of work time.

Employees Strongly Oppose a Proposal to Extend Working Hours: 

Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) on July 20 opposed a proposal to extend the working hours of employees in the IT/ITES/BPO sector. KITU General Secretary Suhas Adiga warned that one-third of the workforce will be out of employment as the number of working shifts will be reduced.

"This amendment will allow the companies to go for a two-shift system instead of the currently existing three-shift system, and one-third of the workforce will be thrown out of their employment,” it said.

The union has also highlighted studies on the health impacts of extended working hours among IT employees.

"As per the report from KCCI, 45% of employees in the IT sector are facing mental health issues such as depression, and 55% are facing physical health impacts. Increasing working hours will further aggravate this situation," it said.

The employees’ union alleged that the state seems to view employees as mere machines rather than human beings and urged the Siddaramaiah government to reconsider and not implement the demand put forth by IT firms.

"This amendment shows that the Government of Karnataka is not ready to consider workers as human beings who need personal and social life to survive. Instead, it considers them only machinery to increase the profit of the corporations it serves,” the statement further said.