In a significant policy shift, the Karnataka government is considering a proposal to extend the working hours for employees in the IT, IT-enabled Services (ITeS), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors. The amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act of 1961 aims to increase the maximum working hours, a move that has already sparked considerable resistance from trade unions.
The proposed amendment suggests that employees in these sectors may be required to work more than 12 hours a day, with a cap of 125 additional hours over any three-month period.
This change is part of a broader push to update labour laws in response to evolving business needs and industry demands. However, the proposal has not been without controversy.
Union representatives, particularly from the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), have voiced strong objections to the new proposal. They argue that the amendment lacks crucial safeguards and could lead to exploitation. The union met with key officials, including Labour Minister Santosh Lad and senior members of the Labour and IT-BT departments, to express their concerns.
According to Sooraj Nidiyanga, the Secretary of KITU, the proposal does not specify a maximum limit on daily working hours. This ambiguity means that while the draft allows for 125 extra hours within a three-month period, companies could potentially impose excessively long hours on employees in a single day or week, as long as the cumulative total does not exceed the limit.
For instance, during peak periods like March, companies could require employees to work additional hours without any daily maximum, a situation that Nidiyanga describes as “completely unacceptable.”
Current labour laws restrict adult employees to a maximum of 48 hours per week. The proposed changes, therefore, represent a significant departure from these norms. The union argues that such an extension could exacerbate existing issues related to high stress and poor mental health among IT professionals.
Studies have shown that long working hours and high work pressure contribute to a decline in mental well-being, particularly in tech hubs like Bengaluru.
The union has provided evidence of these concerns during their meetings with officials, including reports highlighting the detrimental impact of prolonged work hours on mental health.
Despite these concerns, discussions about the proposal are ongoing, with the Labour Minister promising to convene a larger meeting in the near future to address the issues raised.
In addition to this proposal, the Karnataka government’s earlier decision to extend exemptions for the IT/ITeS sector from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act has also faced backlash. This decision was protested by various groups who argued that it undermined workers' rights and protections.
The resistance from trade unions underscores the broader debate over labour laws and worker rights in the context of rapidly changing industries.
As the Karnataka government moves forward with its proposal, it will need to navigate these concerns carefully to balance business needs with the welfare of employees. The outcome of this discussion will be closely watched by both industry stakeholders and workers across the state.
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