Techies fume at proposed 14-hr workday

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Around 500 software engineers, graphic designers and other IT and ITES workers protested at the Freedom Park on Saturday against the Karnataka government’s law amendment, which proposes a 14- hour workday, which they rue would put their work-life balance in jeopardy.

The Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024, if tabled, will change the current system of 10 hours (including eight hours of work and remaining time for rest, intervals and change of shifts) + 2 hours overtime to a 14-hour workday.

The Bill was put into the backburner after backlash from workers. The Karnataka Information Technology Employees Union (KITU) led gatherings outside gates of prominent IT companies before Saturday's protest.

Trade union leader VJK Nair believes that the human resource in the country is not being utilised so as to be sustainable.

“Changing the work-life dynamics of a human being by increasing work hours will change them for the bad. An employer’s profit alone should not be considered. This is also a ploy to cut down costs by extending work hours and reducing their shifts,” he said.

Additional Labour Commissioner Manjunath G provided a glimmer of hope to the protesters when he ensured that the “Bill would not be passed”.

At present the Labour department lacks the understanding of the role of the working class, although it tries not to be anti-labour, he stated. Nair said the government is inclined at “welfarism” rather than regulating relations between the employer and employee. “Welfarism can only work temporarily,” he ended.