IT/ITeS staff urge Karnataka government to reconsider long working hours
Karnataka’s only registered union of IT/ITeS sector employees has called for the state government to reconsider its plan to extend the working hours of employees in the IT/ITeS/BPO sector, terming the move “inhuman” and an “attempt to impose slavery”.
Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union, which has more than 10,000 members, also said the plan to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961 is an “open challenge” to the 2 million employees working in the IT/ITeS sector in the state.
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Offering CollegeCourseWebsiteIndian School of BusinessISB Product ManagementVisitMIT xPROMIT Technology Leadership and InnovationVisitIndian School of BusinessProfessional Certificate in Product ManagementVisitThe state government is reportedly planning to amend the Act to facilitate a 14-hour work day for employees in the over $250 billion industry. As per the proposal, an employee working in IT/ITeS/BPO sector may be required or allowed to work for more than 12 hours a day and not exceeding 125 hours in three continuous months.
“The proposed new bill, Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024, attempts to normalise a 14-hour work day. The existing Act only allows a maximum of 10 hours work per day including overtime, which has been completely lifted in the current amendment. It will facilitate the IT/ITES companies to extend the daily hours of work indefinitely,” Suhas Adiga, general secretary, Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees
