Karnataka: Siddaramaiah Government Considers IT Sector's 14-Hour Workday Proposal, Strong Opposition From Employees' Union

Information technology (IT) firms in Karnataka have proposed extending employee working hours to 14 hours, according to a report from India Today.

This proposal has faced significant criticism from employees, who have termed it as inhumane, with regard to chances of aggravating health issues and concerns about increased layoffs.

The state government is reportedly considering amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, to accommodate this request.

The IT companies want the amendment to legally extend work hours to 14 hours (12 hours plus 2 hours of overtime). Currently, labour laws permit 9 hours of work per day, with an additional hour allowed as overtime.

The new proposal from the IT sector states, "employees in the IT/ITeS/BPO sector may be required or allowed to work more than 12 hours a day, not exceeding 125 hours in three continuous months."

The move to extend working hours has come under fire from the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU).

The union released a strong statement warning that one-third of the workforce could face unemployment due to a reduction in the number of working shifts.

"This amendment will allow companies to implement a two-shift system instead of the current three-shift system, resulting in one-third of the workforce being laid off," the union stated.

The union also highlighted studies on the health impact of extended working hours among IT employees. It further accused the state of treating employees as mere machines rather than human beings, urging the Siddaramaiah government to reconsider its decision.