Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge’s Statement on 14-Hour Work Day Proposal

The minister stated that a draft bill has been proposed by the Labour department, and further discussions will be held before its approval. He mentioned a bill brought in by the Labour Department and expressed willingness to review it. There were concerns raised by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU) about the reported move by the Karnataka government to permit IT firms to extend their employees’ working hours from 12 to 14 hours. The union viewed the 14-hour work day as an infringement on workers’ basic rights.

IT firms have reportedly submitted a proposal to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, seeking legal authorization for extended work hours. This proposal suggests allowing for 14-hour work days or a combination of 12 hours with an additional 2 hours of overtime. Earlier, the Karnataka government had to postpone a draft bill that required private companies to reserve 50 percent of management positions and 70 percent of non-management positions for local candidates. The bill faced significant opposition from investors and trade bodies.

In response to the criticism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a suspension of the bill and emphasized the need for broader consultations. These developments highlight ongoing discussions and debates surrounding labor laws and regulations in the state. *(Except for the headline, the content has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed. )*