(Image source from: Ptcnews.tv)
In the wake of a major uproar over a bill aimed at reserving jobs for local residents in Karnataka, the state government is now considering a proposal to increase the daily working hours for IT employees to 14 hours, according to the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU). The union states that this proposal was presented during a meeting convened by the labor department, involving various industry stakeholders. If implemented, the extended work duration would significantly exceed the current legal limit of 10 hours per day, including overtime, which the proposed "Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024" aims to completely remove. The government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has not yet commented on this issue. The union has expressed concerns about the potential impact of this amendment on the well-being and work-life balance of IT/ITES employees in the state.
The proposed changes to the IT industry will have significant repercussions, with a substantial portion of the workforce facing potential job losses. During the meeting, representatives from the Karnataka IT Union (KITU) highlighted the health concerns associated with extended working hours among IT employees. According to a report by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), 45% of IT sector employees are experiencing mental health issues like depression, and 55% are facing physical health impacts. Increasing work hours will only exacerbate these problems. Moreover, a joint study by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization suggests that extended working hours can lead to a 35% higher risk of death by stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease. The Union emphasized that this amendment comes at a time when the global community is recognizing the adverse effects of prolonged work hours on productivity, leading more countries to introduce legislation that acknowledges the employee's right to disconnect as a fundamental right.
The IT/ITeS industry in Karnataka, employing around 20 lakh people, faces a significant hurdle. These workers must adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, requiring them to acquire new skills and knowledge constantly. This transformation presents a substantial test for the industry, as it navigates the changing demands of the digital age. The union called on all IT workers to unite and oppose this "inhumane attempt to enslave". Earlier last year, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy sparked controversy when he suggested that India's work culture needed to change and that young people should be willing to work 70-hour weeks. His Bangalore-based IT company has a market capitalization of ₹7,44,396.43. Earlier this week, the Karnataka government courted controversy by passing a law requiring private sector companies in the state to give preference to local workers in 70 percent of non-management positions and 50 percent of management positions. The bill prepared by the state labor department states that the jobs in question will be offered primarily to people from northern states settled in Karnataka. It has been suggested that companies based in Karnataka will benefit from the infrastructural reserves offered to the local population. However, due to the excitement following the announcement, the draft law was postponed.
