Siddu vows to cut working hours from 12 to 8 in new bill

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured labour unions that he would amend the Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2023 to bring down the mandatory working hours from 12 hours to eight.

He made the assurance to farmers and labour leaders of Samyuktha Horata Karnataka.

The CM also promised to look into and resolve issues pertaining to land acquisition, economic hardships arising due to stringent restrictions placed by cow slaughter prohibition act, Bagair Hukum land, a One Time Settlement (OTS) for farmers’ loans in rural banks and the limiting of protests to Freedom Park.

The Samyuktha Horata Karnataka delegation included farmers, Dalits, labourers, students and women's organisations.

“The Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2023 does not make 12 hours of work mandatory. I will review and reduce it to 8 hours as before,” Siddaramaiah told the delegation.

“Co-operative and national banks will be instructed not to forcibly collect the loans installments of farmers,” he added.

The CM also promised to convene a meeting with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, Agriculture Minister N Chulvaraya Swamy officials under these departments to resolve the issues related to Bagair Hukum, Akrama- Sakrama and other issues.

“Amendment brought to Section 79 of the Land Reforms Act will be corrected,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said that he’d also try to push the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act which is yet to be passed in the Council.