IT giants ‘pressurised’ state govt over 14-hr work day in bill, say minister Lad

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Amid a growing row over a bill which seeks to extend the working hours of Information Technology (IT) sector employees, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has claimed that IT industry leaders themselves had “pressurized” the state government to increase the maximum working hours from 10 hours a day to 14. He made the remarks to mediapersons at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Monday.

IT-enabled Services (ITeS) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors will also have 14 hours as the maximum working time on a daily basis, according to the proposed bill.

Unions such as the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) said that the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024 will make it nearly impossible for employees in the relevant sectors to have any personal life and adversely affect their physical and mental health.

“The industries are pressurizing. They’re asking for this. They want this. Obviously, since pressure from the industry is there, the bill has come to us. We, the labour department, are still evaluating it. Now, the question is I want all heads of the industries to discuss this. It’s an open demand now. So I want them to debate this and express their view and since this matter has come to the public domain, there is so much dissent among IT employees. I want people to express their opinion. Based on that, we will definitely as a department look into what has to be done,” Lad said.

On being asked about the criticism on part of the unions that such long working hours would lead to an adverse effect on the health of employees, the minister said that discussions would be held.

“I want all the IT companies, owners, directors to give their opinion, whether it is required or not. Now, the dissent is coming from the unions, isn’t it? Why don’t IT industry people speak about it? Whether they speak positively or negatively on it, the government will look into it,” Lad said.

“This is because they (the IT sector) are pressurizing the government, right? Without their concern, why would we do it suo motu? Nothing is done suo motu by any department. The IT Minister (Priyank Kharge) hasn’t done it either. Pressure has come from the IT industry itself,” he added.

Biggest attack on working class: KITU

KITU General Secretary Suhas Adiga, who had been a part of the discussions with the labour minister, had branded the Bill the “biggest attack on the working class.''