10-12 Hour Workdays Legalized? Karnataka’s Draft Labour Law Sparks Statewide Outrage

The Karnataka government is under increasing scrutiny after proposing a significant amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, that would allow businesses to extend employee work hours up to 12 hours per day, including overtime. The draft law has been initiated and proposed by the state’s Labour Minister, Santosh Lad, in alignment with the central government’s model labour codes. It is currently under review and has not yet been tabled for final cabinet approval. The proposed changes include increasing the daily working limit to 10 hours, with a possibility of extending it to 12 hours when overtime is factored in. In addition, the three-month cap on overtime would be raised from 50 hours to 144 hours. The draft also seeks to exempt businesses employing fewer than 10 people from various compliance measures, aiming to ease regulatory burdens on micro-enterprises and improve ease of doing business. According to Santosh Lad, the objective is not to impose longer hours, but to introduce flexible working models that can benefit both employers and employees, depending on industry needs. However, the proposed law has drawn widespread opposition from trade unions, employee groups, and civil society organizations. Labour unions such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the Karnataka IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) have strongly criticized the bill, calling it a form of "modern-day slavery." They argue that such a move could lead to serious health concerns, increased exploitation of low-income workers, and substantial job losses—estimated at between 4.5 and 6.8 lakh in sectors like retail and hospitality that heavily depend on shift-based employment. The IT and ITeS sectors have raised specific alarms. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union warns that a 12-hour workday structure could result in the removal of the third shift in many BPOs and KPOs, leading to significant layoffs. Concerns have also been raised about decreased productivity, mental health deterioration, and the long-term sustainability of such a model in high-stress industries like technology and customer service. Many IT workers have taken to social media to voice their outrage, with hashtags such as #NoTo12Hours and #SlaveBill trending widely. Memes have drawn comparisons between the proposal and past comments by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy advocating a 70-hour work week, sparking further debate. Despite the backlash, several business and retail associations have welcomed the proposal. They believe the amendment could improve operational efficiency, reduce scheduling constraints, and even support the implementation of a four-day workweek in select industries. They argue that the reform aligns Karnataka’s labour laws with those of other Indian states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, which have already adopted similar provisions in line with central labour codes. The state government has clarified that the bill is still in draft stage and is open to modifications based on stakeholder feedback. Labour Minister Santosh Lad has publicly stated that no law will be passed without consultations with all affected parties. He emphasized that the government’s intention is to modernize the labour system and provide more choices, not to enforce compulsory long work hours. As the draft law continues to stir debate across sectors, the final decision will rest with the Karnataka Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Until then, trade unions, employee representatives, and employer bodies are expected to intensify lobbying and public awareness efforts to shape the future of labour rights in the state.