IT corporations in Karnataka have submitted a proposal to the state authorities looking for to increase worker working hours to 14 hours, sources mentioned. The transfer was met with fierce opposition from staff, who mentioned it was inhumane, citing well being points and job cuts issues.
Sources revealed that the state authorities is contemplating amending the Karnataka Retailers and Industrial Institutions Act, 1961. work additional time) .
At the moment, labor legal guidelines permit a most of 12 hours of working time (10 hours + 2 hours of additional time).
The brand new proposal from the IT business states that “staff within the IT/ITeS/BPO business could also be required or allowed to work greater than 12 hours a day and never exceed 125 hours for 3 consecutive months.”
The federal government has held preliminary conferences on the matter and can take an extra choice quickly, sources added. The proposal is more likely to be mentioned within the cupboard.
Sturdy resistance from staff
The measure to increase working hours has been strongly resisted by the Karnataka IT/ITeS Staff Union (KITU). The union issued a press release warning {that a} third of the workforce would lose their jobs attributable to diminished shift numbers.
“This modification will permit corporations to function two shifts as an alternative of the at present current three shifts, with one third of the workforce being made redundant,” it mentioned.
The union additionally pointed to analysis on the well being results of prolonged hours for IT staff.
“Based on a report by KCCI, 45 per cent of IT business staff face psychological well being points reminiscent of despair, and 55 per cent face bodily well being results. The rise in working hours will additional exacerbate the state of affairs,” it mentioned.
Staff’ unions claimed that the state appeared to deal with staff as machines as an alternative of individuals and urged the Siddaramaiah authorities to rethink and never implement the calls for made by IT corporations.
“This modification reveals that the Karnataka authorities isn’t able to deal with staff as human beings who want private and social lives to outlive. As a substitute, it views them as mere machines to extend the earnings of the companies they serve,” the assertion additional mentioned. .
