- By Deeksha Gour
- Sun, 21 Jul 2024 02:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Karnataka News: The Karnataka government is making headlines for two proposals that have drawn criticism from various stakeholders. Firstly, the state government is planning to amend the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act to facilitate a 14-hour working day for employees in the IT/ITeS (Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services) sector. According to the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), this proposal was presented during a meeting called by the labour department, which was attended by various industry representatives.
If implemented, this amendment would have a significant impact on Bengaluru, the state capital and the IT hub of the country. The existing act only allows a maximum of 10 hours of work per day, including overtime, but the proposed amendment seeks to completely remove this restriction, effectively allowing companies to extend the daily working hours indefinitely.
The KITU has strongly condemned this move, describing it as the "biggest ever attack on the working class in this era." The union argues that the proposal will enable IT/ITeS companies to adopt a two-shift system instead of the currently existing three-shift system, resulting in the termination of employment for one-third of the workforce.
Additionally, the KITU has raised concerns about the potential health impacts of extended working hours, citing studies that suggest a higher risk of strokes and ischemic heart disease among employees. The union has urged the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to reconsider the proposal, warning that any attempt to implement it will face stiff resistance from the 20 lakh IT/ITeS employees in Karnataka.
Alongside the proposed amendment to working hours, the Karnataka government has also stirred up controversy with its plan to reserve 70 per cent of non-management roles and 50 per cent of management-level jobs in private sector firms for local hires, commonly referred to as 'Kannadigas.'
This bill, drafted by the state's Labour Department, claimed that the jobs in question were being disproportionately given to people from other states who were then settling in Karnataka. The proposal aimed to ensure that companies benefitting from state-provided infrastructure prioritise the employment of local residents.
However, the announcement of this bill was met with widespread outrage and the government was forced to pause its implementation. Critics argued that such a move could potentially violate the constitutional principles of free movement and equal opportunity, while also raising concerns about its impact on the state's ability to attract and retain talent.
The Karnataka government's actions have ignited a heated debate, with both proposals drawing criticism from various quarters. While the government claims these measures are aimed at addressing local employment concerns, the public and industry stakeholders have expressed concerns about the potential negative consequences.