Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy has recaptured the headline, once again advocating for 72-hour work weeks, this time citing China’s 9-9-6 rule as an example.
The 9-9-6 rule refers to employees working from 9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week. Commonly associated with China’s tech industry, the rule gained popularity after Alibaba founder Jack Ma famously called it a “blessing” in 2019.
Murthy appeared on Republic TV and used the Chinese rule as a positive justification for his earlier comments about 72-hour work weeks. “There is a saying in China, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. And that is a 72-hour week,” he said on Republic TV.
In October 2023, Murthy captured the headlines when he claimed in an interview that young workers in India should be ready to give 70 hours a week to their job.
“India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity… we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress,” Murthy had commented. “So, therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week.'”
Murthy’s past comments had inspired outrage among the working professionals in India. As such, his recent reference to the 9-9-6 rule has also not gone unnoticed. Many have criticised the Infosys founder for his take on the work culture, claiming that Murthy should focus on improving what Infosys provides as a company rather than piling expectations on employees.
The Chinese Supreme Court has already banned the 9-9-6 system in 2021, though the enforcement of said ban remains in question.
