The 12-Hour Workday Debate

As India positions itself as a global tech hub, a disturbing trend is resurfacing one that undermines worker dignity under the guise of "productivity." The recent Karnataka government proposal to implement 12-hour work shifts for IT employees has sparked widespread outrage and rightly so.

What’s Happening?

At the heart of a growing storm in India's tech capital, the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has raised a red flag against a controversial Karnataka government proposal to extend daily working hours in the IT, ITeS, and BPO sectors from 10 to 12 hours. The proposal discussed during a recent Labour Department meeting, seeks to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act. The move has triggered backlash from several trade unions, who argue it paves the way for exploitative labour practices under the pretext of "flexibility" and "productivity." This move is framed as “voluntary,” but employees and unions argue that in the power dynamics of the workplace, “voluntary” quickly becomes enforced.”

Why This Is Dangerous

• The shift threatens to normalize exploitative labor conditions in the name of competitiveness.
• Studies across the globe have repeatedly shown that longer hours don’t mean better outcomes they lead to burnout, mental fatigue, and employee attrition
• It puts India at odds with global labor trends that prioritize work-life balance, mental well-being, and sustainable productivity

Let’s Be Clear: This Isn’t About Growth

This is not innovation. It’s regression. If India’s tech leadership wants to build globally competitive workforces, the answer lies in smarter processes, not longer hours. True leadership is not squeezing employees harder. It's enabling them to thrive mentally, emotionally, and professionally.

What Employees Deserve

• Clearly defined working hours with protections against overwork
• Performance metrics based on value creation, not time logged
• A say in how labor policies are formed and implemented
• Leadership that sees them as humans, not just headcounts

India’s growth story doesn’t need a 12-hour shift. It needs respect, dignity, and progressive labor vision

If India truly wants to become a global technology powerhouse, the foundation must be built not on longer hours, but on better systems. Here’s how we can move toward that:

• Introduce Evidence-Based Work Policies
  Policymakers should collaborate with labor economists, technologists, and employee advocacy groups to design frameworks based on global best practices not nostalgic ideas of productivity from another era.
• Mandate Employee Participation in Policy Formation
  Labor reforms must include tech workers at the table. Policies that affect employees' health and well-being cannot be unilaterally decided by government and industry leaders alone.
• Define and Enforce Maximum Working Hours
  India urgently needs an updated IT labor code that:
  1. Limits total weekly work hours
  2. Ensures overtime pay
  3. Recognizes burnout as a legitimate workplace hazard
• Encourage Tech Companies to Invest in Productivity Tools, Not People-Power
  Rather than longer shifts, the focus should be on:
  1. Process automation
  2. AI-driven resource allocation
  3. Efficient project management
• Startups & SMBs Can Lead With Empathy
  Young companies can differentiate themselves by offering humane work hours, remote flexibility, and results-based evaluations. The war for talent will be won not with perks but with principles

What Needs to Happen Next: Solutions, Not Sacrifices

The proposal to institutionalize 12-hour work shifts in Karnataka's IT sector isn't just a policy debate, it’s a reflection of how we value human capital in the tech economy. As India positions itself as a global innovation hub, we cannot afford to regress on worker rights. Pushing productivity at the cost of well-being is a short-sighted trade-off. Instead, we must champion sustainable work practices that respect time, health, and dignity. If we truly believe in building world-class tech, it must start with creating world-class work conditions.