14-Hour Workweek for Tech? NASSCOM Says No to Karnataka's IT Workday Proposal

Bangalore: The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) has opposed Karnataka's recent proposal to extend IT employees' workday to 14 hours. This reaction follows a strong rebuke from IT sector unions in the state.

Ashish Aggarwal, Vice-President and Head of Public Policy at Nasscom, clarified, “Nasscom has not advocated for a 14-hour workday or a 70-hour workweek. We have not yet reviewed the Karnataka Bill and therefore cannot provide detailed feedback. We support the 48-hour workweek standard, which is widely accepted across the country.”

He continued, “We have requested that states and the central government allow some flexibility within the 48-hour framework to help companies standardize operations nationwide. Although we had a discussion with the IT department in Karnataka on this topic a few months ago, we did not meet with the labour department regarding this issue.”

The proposed 'Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024' seeks to introduce a 14-hour workday for IT employees, replacing the current 10-hour daily limit, including overtime. This proposal has sparked significant debate, with concerns about its impact on employee welfare and productivity.

In response, IT sector unions have criticized the proposal as 'inhuman' and potentially detrimental to 2 million workers in Karnataka. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has expressed strong objections, arguing that the amendment would severely affect employees' work-life balance and overall health. Union representatives have already met with Labour Minister Santosh Lad to voice their concerns and push for a reconsideration of the proposal.

Suhas Adiga, General Secretary of KITU, highlighted that the proposed change could force IT/ITES companies to adopt a two-shift system instead of the current three-shift arrangement, potentially leading to job losses and negatively impacting worker health. Adiga pointed out that studies have shown the adverse effects of prolonged working hours on IT employees.

Meanwhile, speaking to Republic Kannada, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad said,"Yes, there is a proposal from the IT sector regarding the extension of working hours. The details of this proposal are already available in the public domain. We will allow discussions to continue.”

Lad also noted that he wants to consult with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and discuss the matter further in an upcoming cabinet meeting. “We will deliberate on this issue in the cabinet and arrive at a final decision,” he added.