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India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Mint
2 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Karnataka govt plans to increase daily work hours to 10; ‘modern-day slavery', say trade unions — check details
The Karnataka government is planning to increase the daily working hours to 10 from the current nine hours, besides allowing more overtime hours, by amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1961, reported The Hindu. Working hours and labour conditions in shops and commercial establishments in the state are governed by the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1961. The amendment is aimed at simplifying procedures such as record-keeping and certification, especially for smaller establishments, said the report. In Karnataka, the work hours can be increased to 10 hours a day and 48 hours a week. The total number of hours of work, including overtime, should not be more than 12 hours a day, said the report. If the amendment comes into force, companies in the information technology sector are likely to benefit the most. In 2019 and 2020, the Union government passed four Labour Codes to allow for an increase in working hours. Following this, states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand passed legislations in this regard. Trade unions on Wednesday strongly opposed the Karnataka government's alleged move to extend daily working hours in certain sectors, including IT. The state Labour Department on Wednesday convened a meeting with the industry representatives and trade union leaders to discuss the proposed amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which reportedly seeks to increase the daily working hours to 12. Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) said it opposed the proposal, calling it a form of "modern-day slavery". 'The government is attempting to normalise inhuman conditions. This amendment is not about productivity—it's about pleasing corporate bosses by turning human beings into machines,' KITU leader Suhas Adiga alleged. The union appealed to all employees across the sector to unite and resist the proposed changes, which it claims would gravely impact work-life balance and job security. Noting that the law permitted a maximum of 10 working hours per day including overtime, KITU alleged that the proposed amendment would legalise 12-hour shifts and facilitate a two-shift system, potentially eliminating one-third of the workforce.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka's proposed 10-hour work shifts: What you need to know
The story so far: The Karnataka government has proposed to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1961, to increase the daily working hours to 10 from the current nine hours, besides allowing more overtime hours. What is Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1961? The Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1961 is a law that governs working hours and labour conditions in shops and commercial establishments in the State. It sets the legal framework for how long employees can work, and how overtime, records, and compliance are handled. What are the key amendments? The new amendment aims to simplify procedures like record-keeping and certification, especially for smaller establishments. Supporters of the move believe it will enhance the ease of doing business and legitimise working-hour patterns that are already in practice. The work hours can be increased to 10 hours a day and 48 hours a week. The total number of hours of work, including overtime, shouldn't be more than 12 hours a day. An employee can work overtime for 144 hours in a period of three continuous months. At present, it is 50 hours. Firms with employees fewer than 10 are exempted from this Act. Who will benefit from the amendment? The biggest beneficiaries of the proposed amendment to this Act will be companies in the Information Technology and Information Technology-Enabled Services (IT & ITES) sectors. These include businesses offering software services, backend IT operations, hardware sales, and similar services. These companies are expected to benefit from the formal extension of working hours and the easing of compliance burdens. What are the concerns? Trade unions argue that the move legalises existing violations and could lead to exploitation of workers, including wage theft, due to poor enforcement mechanisms and staff shortages in the Labour Department. The law is ambiguous on increasing the wage proportional to the increased work hours. Which other states have 10-hour work shifts? After the Union government passed four Labour Codes in 2019 and 2020 that allowed increasing the work hours, the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have passed legislations. Recently, Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved increasing work hours to 10 per day. (With inputs from Sharath Srivatsa)
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
BMS slams labour law amendments, warns of direct action
The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has strongly opposed and condemned the State government's decision to amend the existing labour laws through the AP Factories Amendment Bill, 2025. Addressing the media on Tuesday, BMS National Vice President M. Jagadiswara Rao and State General Secretary M.V.S. Naidu criticised the decision to increase the working hours to 10, stating that it would negatively impact workers' health and welfare. They dismissed the State government's justification that these changes were necessary to ensure Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and will attract investors. The leaders said that the changes would not reduce procedural burdens for industrial units. The increase of OT (Overtime) hours from 50 to 144 hours every quarter is wrong and will impact employment prospects of job seekers. Mr. Jagadiswara Rao recalled that the BMS had previously opposed the four Labour Codes proposed by the Centre to replace labour laws, as they were not in the interests of workers. Many State governments have been amending their labour laws with the Centre's decision. Now, the Alliance government in AP has decided to amend its labour laws and sent the proposal to the Centre. He added that the OT policy was brought in to utilise the services of workers for emergencies, not regularly. The proposal to permit women workers in night shifts even with safeguards is not correct. The BMS leaders reiterated their demand for the withdrawal of the proposed amendment, failing which they would resort to direct action.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
JAC leaders oppose termination of contract workers in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant
Demanding an immediate halt to the termination of contract workers in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), Public Sector Undertakings All Party Trade Unions JAC chairman M. Jaggunaidu said that the State government should come out with its stand on the issue, and also withdraw the State police from the plant. At a meeting organised here on Tuesday, to express solidarity with the striking steel workers, the JAC leaders condemned the 'illegal' termination of contract workers in the VSP. They also sought lifting of the 'illegal' suspensions of trade union leaders, withdrawal of show cause notices, solving the problems of permanent employees and payment of salary arrears. CITU district general secretary R.K.S.V. Kumar said that the proposed all India general strike from Tuesday(May 20) was deferred to July 9 in view of the post-war scenario in the country. The contract workers of VSP have, however, commenced an indefinite strike from Tuesday. The demands include abolition of Labour Codes, allocation of captive mines to VSP and merging the plant with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). The speakers found fault with the NDA leaders in the State for failing to impress upon the Union government to revoke its decision on strategic sale of VSP. The TDP and JSP leaders, who had promised to protect the VSP before the elections, had failed to question the 'illegal' termination of 5,400 contract workers, they alleged. The deployment of State police in the plant premises, as never before, indicates that the State government was supporting the moves of the Centre, the speakers alleged. AITUC district president M. Manmadha Rao, IFTU State secretary M. Venkateswarlu, CFTUI national president Kanaka Rao were among those who spoke at the solidarity meeting held near the RTC Complex. All India strike on July 9 The JAC also extended its support to the 'Thalli Bidda Express' workers, who staged a protest seeking solution to their problems. They also demanded justice to the scheme workers like ASHA workers, Anganwadi and Midday Meal schemes, and payment of ₹9,000 as minimum persion to EPS pensioners. They appealed to all sections of the people to make the proposed all India strike on July 9, a success. CITU leaders P. Mani, M. Subba Rao, Venkata Rao, V. Krishna Rao, Pydiraju and AITUC leaders Rahaman and Kasubabu were among those who participated.
