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New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
10-hour working day proposal faces private employees' wrath in Karnataka
BENGALURU: The Karnataka government's proposal to increase work hours for private firms from the existing nine hours to 10 hours a day is facing stiff opposition from employees of private firms, including the IT/ITeS employees' association. They have threatened to stage protests and approach the courts. State labour department officials led by Labour Secretary Rohini Sindhuri interacted with various labour organisations as there is a proposal to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1961, to fix work time as 10 hours. The government also proposes to increase overtime (OT) from maximum 10 hours to 12 hours a day. The employees also fear that the proposed amendment will allow companies to opt for a two-shift system, instead of the existing three-shift system. 'This means, one third of the workforce will be thrown out of employment,'' a release from the association stated. Suhas Adiga, general secretary of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) noted that as per the State of Emotional Wellbeing Report 2024, 90 per cent of corporate employees in India under the age of 25 are struggling with anxiety. Due to work pressure, there have been suicides and deaths in the corporate sector, he pointed out. According to the release from the IT/ITeS association, the proposed amendment shows that the Karnataka government is unwilling to recognise workers as human beings who require personal and social lives to survive. 'Instead, it views them merely as machines to increase the profits of the corporates it serves,'' it stated. KITU urged the government to reconsider this move and warned that any attempt to proceed with the amendment will be seen as a direct challenge to the 20 lakh employees working in the IT/ITeS sector in Karnataka. KITU has called upon all IT/ITeS employees to unite and stand together to resist this 'inhuman attempt to impose modern-day slavery upon us'', it added.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
'Modern-day slavery': Trade unions slam Karnataka's proposal to increase working hours in IT, other sectors
A day after word emerged that the Karnataka government is considering a sweeping reform of labour laws that could extend the duration of the state's maximum workday and significantly increase the cap on overtime, several trade unions have voiced strong opposition, calling it 'modern-day slavery', as reported by news agency PTI. READ | Karnataka government proposes 10-hour workdays, higher overtime cap: Report The move raised eyebrows among worker unions and policy experts alike. On Wednesday, the state Labour Department held a meeting with industry representatives and union leaders to discuss a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. This amendment would reportedly allow for 12-hour workdays. In this light, the union urged employees across the IT sector to stand together and push back against the change, warning that it could seriously harm work-life balance and threaten job security. READ | 'Building the Bengaluru of tomorrow': DK Shivakumar on Greater Bengaluru project KITU noted that its leaders, Suhas Adiga and Lenil Babu, attended the meeting. The union pointed out that current laws cap daily work at 10 hours, including overtime, and claimed the proposed amendment would legitimize 12-hour shifts and pave the way for a two-shift system — potentially cutting the workforce by a third. 'The government is attempting to normalise inhuman conditions. This amendment is not about productivity — it's about pleasing corporate bosses by turning human beings into machines,' Adiga said, as quoted by the agency. READ | Bengaluru: BMTC plans non-AC express bus service with fewer stops to cut commute time According to KITU, this proposal places corporate interests above employee welfare and infringes on workers' basic rights. The union also raised concerns about mental health, referencing the "State Emotional Wellbeing Report 2024," which found that 90 per cent of corporate employees under the age of 25 experience anxiety. (With PTI inputs)
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Unions oppose draft bill that raises working hours to 10 a day
1 2 Bengaluru: The labour department's draft amendment to Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, proposing a 10-hour workday, has triggered widespread concern among trade unions and private sector employees across the state. The draft proposes raising the daily work limit from nine to 10 hours, with working hours including overtime increasing to a maximum 12 hours a day. However, the weekly cap remains at 48 hours. Additionally, maximum permissible overtime over any three consecutive months has been raised dramatically from 50 to 144 hours — a staggering 188% increase. The amendment also exempts shops and establishments with fewer than 10 employees from maintaining mandatory registers and displaying the Act in multiple languages, a move criticised for potentially weakening employee rights in smaller workplaces. Trade unions, including Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU), have voiced strong opposition. CITU warned that the amendment could trigger an "unemployment avalanche", estimating job losses between 4.5 and 6.8 lakh in retail, malls, and hospitality sectors. In a memorandum objecting to the proposal, CITU said the amendments would violate international labour laws and would infringe constitutional rights. It forecast a sharp rise in youth unemployment — from 23.7% to 38.2% — if the amendment is implemented. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I Asked ChatGPT What The Cheapest Car Insurance Is In 2025 - Here's What It Said Smart Lifestyle Trends Learn More Undo The proposed amendment is likely to affect information technology and information technology-enabled services (IT/ITeS) sector as well. Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) said the move will adversely impact some 20 lakh employees of the sector. KITU pointed out that the amendment is likely to result in a two-shift system instead of the existing three and, as a result, one-third of the workforce will be laid off. The union also cited studies which point out the adverse effects long working hours have on mental health of young employees. "This amendment shows that the govt is unwilling to recognise workers as human beings who require personal time and social lives to thrive. Instead, it views them merely as machines to increase profits of firms who employ them," said Suhas Adiga, KITU general secretary. However, labour minister Santosh Lad said the govt is still carefully evaluating the proposal. "These recommendations came from the central govt," Lad said. "The secretary himself met with the chief secretary and submitted recommendations which were forwarded to the state govt." Lad said he will invite representatives of all stakeholders, gather opinions and consult the chief minister and cabinet. "A final decision will be made only after that," he said. On Wednesday, labour secretary Rohini Sindhuri Dasari met with several stakeholders, but reports suggest no consensus was reached.
Mint
13 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Karnataka govt plans to increase daily work hours to 10; ‘modern-day slavery', say trade unions — check details
The Karnataka government is planning to increase the daily working hours to 10 from the current nine hours, besides allowing more overtime hours, by amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1961, reported The Hindu. Working hours and labour conditions in shops and commercial establishments in the state are governed by the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1961. The amendment is aimed at simplifying procedures such as record-keeping and certification, especially for smaller establishments, said the report. In Karnataka, the work hours can be increased to 10 hours a day and 48 hours a week. The total number of hours of work, including overtime, should not be more than 12 hours a day, said the report. If the amendment comes into force, companies in the information technology sector are likely to benefit the most. In 2019 and 2020, the Union government passed four Labour Codes to allow for an increase in working hours. Following this, states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand passed legislations in this regard. Trade unions on Wednesday strongly opposed the Karnataka government's alleged move to extend daily working hours in certain sectors, including IT. The state Labour Department on Wednesday convened a meeting with the industry representatives and trade union leaders to discuss the proposed amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, which reportedly seeks to increase the daily working hours to 12. Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) said it opposed the proposal, calling it a form of "modern-day slavery". 'The government is attempting to normalise inhuman conditions. This amendment is not about productivity—it's about pleasing corporate bosses by turning human beings into machines,' KITU leader Suhas Adiga alleged. The union appealed to all employees across the sector to unite and resist the proposed changes, which it claims would gravely impact work-life balance and job security. Noting that the law permitted a maximum of 10 working hours per day including overtime, KITU alleged that the proposed amendment would legalise 12-hour shifts and facilitate a two-shift system, potentially eliminating one-third of the workforce.
