Karnataka IT Employees Union slams government plans over 14 working hours for IT employees

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, July 21, 2024: Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union has urged the Siddaramaiah government to reconsider its decision after the latter announced plans of extending the working hours of IT/ITeS/BPO sector. The union has termed the move "inhuman" and think this is "an attempt to impose slavery".

The Karnataka government is reportedly planning to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, with which it is likely to give the nod for companies to make their employees work for over 12 hours a day, which should not extend to 125 hours in three successive months, as per a report by Economic Times.


“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,” general secretary of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union said in a statement.

A meeting was recently called by the labour department in the state in which labour minister Santosh S Lad and union leaders were present.

The union’s statement also pointed out that this might lead to more layoffs: “This amendment will allow the companies to go for a two-shift system instead of the currently existing three-shift system, and one-third of the workforce will be thrown out from their employment," the publication reported.