IT workers in sight, Karnataka govt may allow companies to make employees work 12-hr a day
The Karnataka government is mulling a major amendment to its labor laws that could increase the typical workday in companies and organisations to 10 hours, and in some cases to 12 hours, including overtime. The step, meant to align local regulations with national labour reforms and make operational procedures simpler for businesses, has sparked strong protests from trade unions in the state.advertisementAccording to The Hindu, the proposal entails changes to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, presently allowing for a maximum of nine working hours a day. Under the new framework, workers could be allowed to work 10 hours a day and 48 hours a week with a maximum of 12 hours of work, including overtime every day.The state Labour Department conducted a consultative meeting on Wednesday with members from both the industry and labour unions to discuss the amendments. Though the government contends that the reforms will ease processes for small businesses, such as record-keeping and certification, the action has been sharply criticised by workers' groups, especially in the technology sector.
Trade unions, spearheaded by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), have denounced the draft amendment, cautioning that it will have disastrous implications for employee well-being. "The government is trying to make inhuman conditions the norm. This amendment is not for productivity—it's to appease corporate honchos by reducing human beings to machines," stated Suhas Adiga, KITU leader, reported The Hindu. advertisementThe union has termed the move a move towards "modern-day slavery" and has appealed to workers in all sectors to organize against the move. KITU has threatened that the extension of the legal workday to 12 hours would open the way for a two-shift system, which could result in huge layoffs. "The change would legalise 12-hour shifts and enable a two-shift structure, potentially wiping out one-third of the workforce," the union claimed.The government's push comes amidst wider national labour reforms. Between 2019 and 2020, the Union government enacted four Labour Codes with a view to consolidating and updating India's labour laws. These codes provided states with an opportunity to decide on the thresholds for work hours, leading to various states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand enacting identical legislation increasing work-hour limits.Industry watchers opine that Karnataka's vibrant information technology industry has much to gain if the amendment materialises. Longer hours might provide IT companies with greater flexibility in their operations and easier synchronisation with international time zones, they say.But labour activists caution that business gains perceived here have a cost to workers' psychological and physical health. KITU and other trade unions are calling on the government to revisit the proposal and open a wider, more open discussion that includes employees from across all industries. "It's not only a labour issue; it's a human issue. The priority should be to maintain dignity and ensure work-life balance," Adiga said.The Labour Department has made no official comment after Wednesday's meeting, and the draft amendment has not been brought to the legislature. But signs of unrest imply that any move to implement such far-reaching changes without broader consultation would be likely to spark mass protests and industrial action in the state.
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