THE Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), in a statement issued on July 23, has vehemently criticised the Karnataka government's recent move to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act of 1961, which would increase the working hours in the IT/ITES/BPO sector to 14 hours a day. It said that the proposed amendment is an infringement on basic workers' rights and personal life.

According to CITU, the proposed changes would force workers into a gruelling 14-hour workday, enabling IT/ITES companies to reduce the number of shifts from three to two. This adjustment is expected to lead to massive job losses, with one-third of the current workforce potentially being laid off. The union argues that this move aims to extract more surplus value from a reduced workforce by extending working hours indefinitely.

This proposal marks the third significant offensive against the working class by the Congress-led state government of Karnataka. The first was the implementation of an amendment to the Factories Act in August 2023, introduced by the previous BJP-led government, which increased working hours and permitted the deployment of women workers in night shifts. This amendment was met with fierce resistance from workers and trade unions across the state.

The second major action was the extension of the exemption of IT & ITeS industries from the Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act for another five years. Now, the proposed increase in working hours is seen as a continuation of these anti-worker policies.

CITU has also highlighted that following Karnataka's extension of exemptions for the IT & ITeS industries, the Telangana government similarly extended exemptions from the Shops and Establishments Act. The Karnataka government's current proposal appears to align with Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's recent suggestion for a 72-hour work week, reflecting broader neoliberal policies pursued by the Modi government at the centre, which cater to the interests of employers.

The existing law allows a maximum of 10 hours of work per day, including overtime. CITU has demanded that the Karnataka government abandon this proposed amendment, calling on workers to stand in solidarity with IT & ITeS employees in their struggle against this draconian change. The union urges workers to resist the amendment with defiance and combativeness, emphasizing the need to protect workers' rights and ensure fair labour practices.