Karnataka plans 10-hour days for tech sector employees: Report
The Karnataka government is planning to increase daily working hours for employees in the information technology (IT) sector, reported the Deccan Herald. The move has been met with strong criticism from trade unions, who say it will hurt workers' rights and damage work-life balance.At present, Section 7 of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, limits working hours to nine per day, and allows a maximum of 10 hours of overtime in three months. The total overtime in this period cannot go beyond 50 hours. However, under the government's new proposal, the maximum working hours would be raised to 10 per day, with overtime going up to 12 hours per day. The total overtime allowed in three months would also be increased from 50 to 144 hours.SIMILAR MOVE IN ANDHRA PRADESHThe Karnataka government's proposal follows a similar decision taken in Andhra Pradesh, where the TDP-led NDA government recently allowed companies to increase the daily working hours from nine to 10. The change was made as part of the state's efforts to attract investment and make doing business easier.Andhra Pradesh's Information and Public Relations Minister, K Parthasarathy, said that the state wants to make labour laws more friendly for both workers and companies. He also said that women, who were earlier not allowed to work at night, can now do so with certain safety rules like consent, transport, security, and proper lighting at the workplace.The minister added, 'When you work extra, income will increase. By these rules, women can work in the formal sector. They empower women economically and promote gender inclusion and industrial growth.'But the move has also seen opposition. CPI state secretary K Ramakrishna said that the changes in labour laws are against the interest of workers and benefit companies more than employees.STRONG OPPOSITION FROM TRADE UNIONS IN KARNATAKASeveral trade unions in Karnataka have opposed the government's reported plan to extend working hours. On Wednesday, the state Labour Department held a meeting with representatives from the industry and trade unions to discuss the possible amendment to the law.The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) took part in the meeting and clearly opposed the idea. KITU called the proposal a form of 'modern-day slavery' and said it would harm workers' health, work-life balance, and job security. The union appealed to all employees in the sector to stand together against the proposed changes.KITU leaders Suhas Adiga and Lenil Babu, who attended the meeting, said the law already allows up to 10 working hours per day including overtime. They warned that the amendment would make 12-hour shifts legal and encourage companies to introduce a two-shift system. This, they said, could lead to job cuts and increased pressure on workers.Adiga said, 'The government is trying to normalise inhuman working conditions. This change is not about improving productivity—it is about keeping corporate heads happy by turning human beings into machines.'MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNSKITU also raised concerns about the mental health of employees in the corporate sector. The union referred to the 'State Emotional Wellbeing Report 2024,' which found that 90% of corporate employees under the age of 25 suffer from anxiety. It said the proposed increase in working hours would only make the problem worse.The union said that instead of extending working hours, the government should focus on protecting workers' rights and supporting their wellbeing.The proposal is still under discussion, and no final decision has been made. More talks between the government, trade unions, and industry groups are expected in the coming weeks.Meanwhile, workers' groups have made it clear that they will continue to oppose any changes that increase working hours or reduce job security.Trending Reel
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