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After receiving criticism from various industries and businesses over the job reservation bill for Kannadigas, the Karnataka government is now facing opposition from the Karnataka State IT/ITES Employees Union (KITU). The union alleges that the government is planning amendments to relevant laws to extend working hours for the IT and ITES sectors from 10 hours per day to 14 hours.
KITU stated that the proposed bill, titled ‘Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 2024’, currently under discussion, aims to increase working hours. The union has expressed strong objections to these potential changes.
According to KITU, the proposal to amend the bill was discussed during a meeting between the labor department and industry stakeholders. The union criticized the bill for undermining workers' right to personal time. The current Act permits a maximum of 10 hours of work per day, including overtime, but the proposed changes would remove this limit, allowing companies to extend work hours indefinitely. KITU also claimed that the amendment would enable companies to adopt a two-shift system instead of the existing three-shift system, potentially leading to job losses for one-third of the workforce, as stated by Suhas Adiga, General Secretary of KITU.
The IT unions referenced a report by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which revealed that 45% of IT employees working extended hours suffer from mental health issues such as depression, while 55% face physical health problems.