In Bengaluru, the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU) recently organized a mass gathering at Freedom Park, championing the “right to disconnect” and advocating for the enforcement of work-hour limits.

The union’s demands include the removal of the IT sector’s exemption from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act and stringent action against labor law violations.

The event’s slogan, “A healthy work-life balance is every employee’s right,” underscores the pressing need for equilibrium between professional duties and personal life.

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The “right to disconnect” empowers employees to abstain from responding to work-related communications outside official working hours.

This concept has gained legal recognition in countries such as Australia, France, and Spain. KITU members highlighted the challenges faced by IT professionals in India.

Rithvik, an IT worker and union member, expressed concerns about potential repercussions for not engaging in after-hours communications, stating, “If you choose not to respond to a work-related message, you might get sidelined or assigned extra work.”

He further noted that the COVID-19 pandemic blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, with remote work leading to increased expectations from employers.

“Bosses now expect you to answer calls at home, which wasn’t as common before the pandemic,” Rithvik added.

Another union member, Akash, emphasized the importance of collective action in effecting change.

“While implementing the law is crucial, real enforcement can only happen when workers unite to demand their rights,” he remarked, viewing the gathering as a pivotal step toward this goal.

KITU General Secretary Suhas Adiga condemned the prevailing toxic work culture in the IT sector, advocating for systemic reforms to protect employees’ well-being.

The protestors displayed placards featuring images of prominent industry figures, including Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Larsen & Toubro Managing Director SN Subrahmanyan.

This was in response to their recent statements advocating for extended work hours. Murthy had suggested that young Indians should work 70 hours a week to boost national productivity, a remark that sparked widespread debate.

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Similarly, Subrahmanyan proposed a 90-hour workweek, questioning the utility of weekends and suggesting that employees could spend more time at work.

These statements have been met with criticism from various quarters, including labor unions and social media users, who argue that such expectations are unrealistic and detrimental to employees’ health and personal lives.

Despite the significance of the issues raised, the turnout at the gathering was lower than anticipated.

KITU advisor Vasanthraj expressed disappointment, noting that given Bengaluru’s status as a tech hub, a larger participation was expected to amplify their collective voice.

He emphasized the need for greater solidarity among IT employees to effectively advocate for their rights and bring about meaningful change in the industry’s work culture.

The union’s efforts are part of a broader movement to address labor law violations in the IT sector.

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Last year, KITU submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka Labour Minister, alleging that IT/ITeS companies were violating overtime wage rules and extending work hours beyond statutory limits.

Despite multiple meetings and protests, the union claims that the government has yet to take concrete steps to regulate working hours, highlighting the urgency of their demands.

The concept of the “right to disconnect” has been gaining traction globally as employees and labor unions advocate for clearer boundaries between work and personal life.

In France, for instance, a law enacted in 2017 grants employees the right to ignore work-related communications outside of working hours, aiming to reduce burnout and improve work-life balance.

Similar measures are being considered or implemented in other countries, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of this issue.

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The demands for enforcing work-hour limits and removing exemptions from certain labor laws are also critical components of KITU’s advocacy.

The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, which outlines conditions of employment, currently exempts the IT sector, leaving many employees without standardized protections.

Removing this exemption would subject IT companies to the same regulations as other industries, ensuring fair treatment and preventing exploitation.

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