The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) staged a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on 9 March, renewing its call for labour law reforms in the IT sector. The union is demanding stricter enforcement of regulations to address excessive work hours and unpaid overtime.
This protest follows a similar demonstration on 3 August, where IT workers voiced concerns over increasing workloads and declining work-life balance.
On 13 March, KITU submitted a memorandum to the Labour Minister, highlighting violations in the IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) sector. The union claims that companies frequently extend work hours beyond legal limits without compensating employees for overtime. The union further criticised employers for taking their contributions for granted while imposing increasingly demanding work conditions.
The union’s demands include setting enforceable daily work-hour limits to prevent burnout, revoking exemptions that allow IT firms to bypass the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, taking strict action against labour law violations, and implementing a ‘Right to Disconnect’ policy to protect employees from after-hours work pressure.
KITU’s push for reforms comes amid growing dissatisfaction among IT employees. Many workers are struggling with extended hours and high stress levels without adequate compensation.
The Karnataka government’s recent proposal to extend working hours for IT/ITES employees has further fuelled concerns. Authorities considered amending the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, to increase overtime limits.
The plan aimed to boost the state’s share of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India from 45 to 50 per cent. Official documents revealed that overtime hours were to be capped at 125 hours over three months to ensure limited extended shifts. However, the proposal faced backlash from employees and labour unions.
During the protest, tensions escalated when demonstrators attempted to burn posters featuring two corporate figures who had commented on work hours. Despite police objections, the demonstration continued, with slogans raised against extended work hours and employer practices.
