With the Karnataka Government planning on increasing the legal limit of daily working hours to 10, trade unions across the state have started to protest.
As per the proposed amendment, working hours in a week will be limited to 48, but daily working hours can extend up to 10 and 12 when including overtime.
Many concerned parties believe that the changes to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, will severely disrupt the work-life balance of the employees. Karnataka is home to the city of Bengaluru, a hub for IT/ITeS companies. As such, the changes will severely impact the workers within the field.
The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) reportedly deemed the changes as “modern-day slavery,” urging employees to come together and protest against the mentioned changes.
“The government is attempting to normalise inhuman conditions. This amendment is not about productivity—it’s about pleasing corporate bosses by turning human beings into machines,” said Suhas Adiga, a KITU leader.
The Karnataka Government has emphasised that the proposed changes are meant to increase workplace efficiency and to align with the existing workforce patterns.
“It hasn’t yet been decided if we will implement these recommendations. I will meet stakeholders and decide on the amendments. Even if we consider the amendments, the CM and the Cabinet will be consulted and we will ensure that the common man’s interest is protected,” Labour Minister Santosh Lad told The Deccan Herald.