IT Employee Union protests in Bengaluru against proposed increase in working hours

IT Employees protest: On August 3, the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) organised a protest in Bengaluru’s Freedom Park, voicing strong opposition to the state government's proposal to extend working hours for IT employees. The Karnataka government is considering amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, which could increase overtime by three hours, bringing the total to 12 hours a day. However, regular working hours would remain unchanged at nine hours per day.

Government Response and Protestor Concerns

Manjunath G, Additional Commissioner of the Labour Department, addressed the protesters and assured them that their demands would be considered by the government. KITU, along with other IT unions, is concerned that the proposed amendment undermines workers' rights to personal life and could negatively impact Bengaluru’s position as a leading IT hub.

Industry Impact and Government's Perspective

The state government argues that the proposed changes are aimed at boosting Karnataka’s share of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India, with a target to increase from 45 per cent to 50 per cent. The government also notes that the amendment would limit overtime to 125 hours over three months, ensuring that extended shifts are infrequent.

Union Resistance and Growing Tensions

Suhas Adiga, General Secretary of KITU, has condemned the proposed amendment as unacceptable and vowed to resist its implementation. He warned that pushing forward with these changes could lead to significant backlash from the IT and ITES sectors. Tensions at the protest escalated when workers from another IT employee union attempted to display their banner, resulting in a brief scuffle that police quickly diffused.

This protest is part of a larger movement by KITU and other unions against the proposed changes. In recent months, KITU has organized multiple protests across Bengaluru, including in front of major IT parks and offices. The union has also called for the state government to end the exemption provided to the IT/ITeS sector regarding work hours.

While the Karnataka government has clarified that the extended working hours rule may not apply to all companies, IT industry bodies like the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) have distanced themselves from the proposal, stating they did not request a 14-hour workday or a 70-hour workweek. Other unions, such as the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), have also voiced their opposition, questioning which companies are pressuring the government to enact such laws.