On March 9, the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) organized a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park, calling for improved work-life balance and stronger enforcement of labour laws to regulate the excessive working hours in the IT industry. The demonstration, under the slogan “A Healthy Work-Life Balance is Every Employee’s Right,” aims to highlight the grueling working conditions faced by thousands of IT professionals in the city.
IT workers in Bengaluru have long complained about the disparity between the official eight-to-nine-hour workday and the reality of their jobs. Many employees are regularly asked to work overtime without pay, including weekends, and are expected to remain constantly available beyond office hours. This intense workload is taking a significant toll on the mental and physical well-being of workers.
KITU had previously submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka Labour Minister in March 2024, urging the government to implement stricter working hour regulations and ensure fair overtime compensation. However, despite multiple meetings and protests, the union claims that authorities have failed to take effective action.
The protest’s demands include enforcing daily working hour limits to prevent burnout, revoking the IT sector’s exemption from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, taking strong actions against labour law violations, and introducing the Right to Disconnect. This would allow workers to decline after-hours communication without facing penalties.
Last year, Bengaluru’s IT firms had lobbied for extending daily working hours to 14 hours, even proposing amendments to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. However, following public backlash, the plan was eventually shelved.
Read also;