The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has issued a resounding call to action, urging workers across various sectors to strictly oppose the state government's controversial proposal to extend daily working hours in the Growing IT, ITeS, and BPO industries to an unprecedented 12 hours. This move has sparked a heated debate by drawing sharp criticism from numerous trade unions and raising profound concerns about employee well-being and basic labour rights.
Union Outcry: A united front against extended workdays
On 18th June, the Karnataka Labour Department organized an important meeting to deliberate on a potential amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. This assembly, intended to discuss changes to the existing labour framework was met with strict opposition from a coalition of trade unions. Their collective voice was loud and clear wherein there was expression of profound disapproval of the alleged proposal to significantly increase the daily work limit. This unified front underscores the widespread apprehension and dissent preparing within the labour community regarding the proposed amendment.
At the heart of this contentious debate is a reported amendment that seeks to fundamentally alter the established working hour regulations. Currently, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act mandates a maximum daily work limit of 10 hours, which includes any overtime accrued. The proposed amendment, however, aims to incrementally push this limit to a staggering 12 hours per day. This proposed increase represents a significant disconnect from existing norms and raises serious questions about its potential impact on the lives of countless IT, ITeS, and BPO employees.
KITU's Denouncement: "Modern-Day Slavery"
KITU, having actively participated in the aforementioned meeting with the Labour Department did not even say, word in its condemnation of the proposal. The union unequivocally described the prospect of a 12-hour workday as a form of "modern-day slavery." This powerful and provocative terminology highlights the depth of their concern by suggesting that such an extension of working hours would reduce employees of their autonomy, severely compromise their personal lives and push them towards an unsustainable work model.
In response to this grave threat, KITU has not only voiced its strong opposition but has also issued an appeal to employees across the affected sectors. The union is urging IT, ITeS, and BPO workers to unite in a collective front against this proposed amendment. This call for solidarity underscores the belief that only through concerted and unified resistance can this proposed change, perceived as detrimental to worker welfare, be effectively challenged and ultimately prevented from being implemented. The battle lines are drawn and the coming weeks are likely to witness intensified advocacy and potential mobilization from labour organizations to safeguard the rights of Karnataka's tech workforce.
Unpacking the IT Overtime Debate: A Deep Dive into Worker Concerns and Industry Realities
The recent discussions surrounding updated overtime regulations in the IT sector have ignited a contentious debate wherein they are revealing the policy intentions and the lived experiences of employees. While the labour department asserts these changes align with international standards and modernization efforts, voices from the ground, particularly from labour unions have painted a different picture of increased exploitation and a lack of transparency.
A central point of contention has been highlighted by Suhas Adiga, General Secretary of the Karnataka ITI United (KITU) union, is the alarming absence of data regarding existing overtime practices. During a recent stakeholder meeting, Adiga directly challenged authorities on the number of employees working overtime and their compensation. The response was telling that not a single company had provided the requested information. This blatant lack of data, as Adiga emphatically had stated, points to a severe lack of accountability within the industry by making it impossible to assess the true impact of current or proposed regulations.
Deteriorating Work-Life Balance and Employee Well-being
KITU's official position is clear wherein the proposed changes will have complex consequences for the IT workforce. The union strongly believes that the move will exacerbate existing health risks for employees, further affect the already work-life balance which is still bad, and inevitably push individuals deeper into burnout. This perspective emphasizes a fundamental concern for the well-being of IT professionals wherein they are suggesting that longer legal working hours will only intensify the pressures they already face.
The sentiment among many union members is one of strong opposition. Chitra Banu, a KITU member, expressed this resolve briefly and powerfully, stating, "It won't get implemented; we won't let it happen." This demonstrates a clear intent from labour organizations to actively resist the implementation of these new norms, suggesting potential widespread industrial action or advocacy to prevent their enforcement.
Acknowledging Current Realities, But Not Without Concerns
It's important to note that the proposed changes aren't universally opposed within the industry. Some individuals, particularly those in the startup ecosystem had viewed the new regulations with less alarm. Adithya M, an employee at a Bengaluru-based startup shared his perspective by indicating that working 10-12 hour days is already a common practice for him and many of his peers. For these individuals, whose bodies and minds are already accustomed to extended work hours and the official legalization of increased overtime may not feel like a significant departure from their daily reality.
However, union leaders argue that this acceptance of long hours is precisely the problem, not a justification for the new norms. Sooraj Nidiyanga, another KITU secretary had articulated this critical point that, "Now that 144 hours of overtime per quarter is legal, we're just putting a rubber stamp on what's been happening illegally." From the unions' viewpoint, the new regulations are not about progress or modernization but rather about legalizing existing exploitative practices instead of challenging and rectifying them. This perspective suggests that the changes merely legitimize what has long been detrimental to worker welfare.
The Disconnect Between Policy and Practice
While the labour department maintains that the changes align with International Labour Organisation (ILO) norms and are part of a broader effort to modernize labour law, the discontent from the ground reality tells a different story. These places of interest show a significant disconnect between legislative intent and the lived experience of IT professionals. For the time being, the anxieties within the IT sector remain largely unaddressed. There is a lack of trust between employees and the regulatory bodies and even more critically, a shortage of clarity regarding how these new norms will be implemented and what safeguards will be in place to protect workers. The path forward appears to be with uncertainty and unresolved tensions.
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