News Brief
How Many Hours Do Indians Put In At Work Each Week? New Report Uncovers Insights Amid Narayana Murthy's Controversial 70-Hour Proposal
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy.
A report reveals that Indians have one of the longest working hours globally, averaging 47.7 hours per week, ranking them seventh on the list of the most industrious nations.
According to a 2018 International Labour Organization (ILO) report, only countries such as Qatar, Congo, Lesotho, Bhutan, Gambia, and the United Arab Emirates surpass India in terms of working hours, as reported by NDTV.
This data holds significance, particularly in light of recent discussions sparked by Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy, who advocated for India to adopt a 70-hour workweek.
When compared to the 10 largest global economies, India's workweek stands as the longest. The ILO even plans to release a special India-specific report on working hours due to these findings.
The ILO report highlights an inverse relationship between prosperity and weekly working hours, suggesting that countries with shorter working hours tend to have higher per capita GDP (gross domestic product).
Surprisingly, India boasts the highest weekly working hours among the top 10 economies but one of the lowest per capita GDP figures.
In contrast, France, with a workweek of 30.1 hours, enjoys one of the highest per capita GDP figures at $55,493 (Rs 4,616,620), indicating a more productive and prosperous economy.
Narayana Murthy's call for a 70-hour workweek generated diverse responses, with some supporting his idea while others expressed disagreement.
Several industrialists backed Murthy's proposal, emphasising that India needed its workforce to go beyond the norm.
JSW chairman Sajjan Jindal endorsed the idea, emphasising that it's about dedication, not burnout.
Similarly, Tech Mahindra MD and CEO C P Gurnani stated that Murthy's advice extends to personal growth and expertise in one's field.
However, there were also dissenting voices. Shark Tank India judge Namita Thapar questioned the impact of extended working hours on family time and mental health.
Mukesh Bansal, founder of successful startups like Myntra and CureFit, highlighted the importance of personal choices and fair compensation for demanding longer work hours.
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