14-hour work day in IT sector: Union slams Karnataka govt's plans

Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees' Union (KITU) has urged the Siddaramaiah-led government to reconsider its reported plans to extend the working hours of the IT/ITeS/BPO sector.

According to the union, the government plans to increase the working hours to 14 hours a day.

The proposal to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act in this regard, was presented in a recent meeting called by the labour department with various stakeholders in the industry, it said in a release.

Labour Minister Santosh Lad, officials from the Department of Labour and IT-BT Ministry attended the meeting, in which the representatives of the union took part.

The union strongly opposed the proposed amendment which, it said, poses an "attack on the basic right of any worker to have a personal life."

The labour minister agreed to have one more round of discussion before taking any decision, it added.

Noting that the proposed new bill 'Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment)