
The Karnataka government has proposed an amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. The proposed amendment aims to increase the working hours of IT employees to over 12 hours a day. This move has sparked fierce resistance from IT employee unions, who argue that it would severely impact work-life balance and employees’ health.
Presentation of the Proposal
The proposal to amend the Act was presented during a meeting organized by the state Labour Department. The meeting, held on Friday, July 19, was led by Labour Minister Santhosh Lad and included various stakeholders in the industry, such as representatives of employee unions and IT company management.
Details of the Proposed Amendment
According to the proposed amendment, an employee working in the IT/ITeS/BPO sector may be required or allowed to work for more than 12 hours in a day, not exceeding 125 extra hours in three continuous months. Currently, the existing Act allows a maximum of 10 hours of work per day, including overtime.
Reactions from IT Employee Unions
Sooraj Nidiyanga, secretary of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), expressed concerns about the lack of a daily maximum working hour limit in the amendment. He pointed out that while there is a maximum limit of 125 extra hours over three months, companies could require employees to work any amount of hours exceeding 12 hours a day for a week or even a month, as long as it does not exceed 125 hours in three months.
Potential Job Losses
During the meeting with the Labour Department, union representatives argued that this move could potentially lead to a two-shift system, resulting in one-third of the workforce losing their jobs. If there were previously three shifts with each shift being eight hours long, the introduction of 12-hour shifts could eliminate one shift, leading to job losses.
Contradiction with Previous Government Stance
Ironically, in January this year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had indicated that his government was considering rolling back a law passed by the previous BJP government that allowed industries to extend working hours for laborers up to 12 hours a day. The BJP government had amended the Factories Act of 1948 in February 2023 to achieve this.
Health Impacts of Extended Working Hours
IT employee unions, including KITU, have strongly opposed the amendment, citing studies that highlight the adverse health impacts of extended working hours. They referenced a report by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which found that 45% of IT employees working long hours face mental health issues like depression, while 55% experience physical health problems.
Additionally, they pointed to a World Health Organization (WHO) report that indicated increased working hours could lead to a 35% higher risk of death by stroke and a 17% higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease.
Criticism from KITU
Suhas Adiga, General Secretary of KITU, criticized the government, stating, “The Karnataka government, in their hunger to please their corporate bosses, completely neglects the most fundamental right of any individual — the right to live. This amendment shows that the Government of Karnataka is not ready to consider workers as human beings who need personal and social life to survive. Instead, it considers them as only machinery intended to increase the profit of the corporations that it serves.”
Future Discussions
TNM has also learned that the Labour Ministry will call for a larger meeting in the coming days to discuss the amendment in detail.