A proposed 14-hour workday has sparked intense controversy within Karnataka’s vibrant IT sector. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), which represents a substantial number of workers in the state’s IT industry, has launched a widespread email campaign to vehemently oppose this extension. They are urging all employees in IT/ITES/BPO sectors, along with their families, friends, and associates, to join the campaign and express their dissent.
Initially, the ‘Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2024′ proposed to standardize a 14-hour workday, removing the current 10-hour limit including overtime. This proposal has swiftly elicited strong reactions from industry insiders, prompting a rapid and coordinated response from KITU.
The union argues that extending work hours would severely disrupt employees’ work-life balance and overall well-being, potentially harming both their personal and professional lives.
KITU has streamlined the campaign participation process, urging supporters to email Chief Minister ([email protected]), Labour Minister ([email protected]), and KITU ([email protected]) with the subject line ‘I oppose the Increase in Working Hours.’ They emphasize the importance of using this subject line to clearly communicate opposition to the amendment.
Meanwhile, employees and industry experts have raised significant concerns about the feasibility and fairness of such a measure. Karnataka’s Labour Minister Santosh Lad acknowledged that the government is under pressure from the IT industry to introduce legislation for extending work hours. He clarified that the bill was driven by demands from the sector and not initiated by IT Minister Priyank Kharge.Karnataka IT Employees Launch Mass Email Campaign Against State’s 14-Hour Workday Proposal