Quite recently, the Government of Andhra Pradesh had been criticised for encouraging what many called ‘slavery’ by amending the state’s labour laws and increasing the working hours from nine to 10. Now it is the Government of Karnataka that has decided to make the lives of workers miserable by bringing about amendments in the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. The state government is looking to increase the maximum limit of working hours to 10 per day from nine. It is also increasing overtime hours to 12 per day. The overtime limit for a three-month period will be 144 instead of 50, similar to what Andhra Pradesh has decided.
Additionally, establishments employing less than 10 workers will no longer be covered under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. Such establishments will not need to maintain records or registers pertaining to the workforce nor worry about obtaining formal compliances. As per the state’s labour department, the Centre allows such exemptions for establishments that have workforce strength of less than 20.
Stakeholders are being consulted on these amendments. Trade unions in Karnataka do not approve of the changes, as they feel the rights of workers and their well-being are being compromised. However, the state’s labour department feels Karnataka is only following the example set by other states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh where similar amendments have been implemented. Will long hours really increase productivity and provide the competitive edge that the state is seeking? That remains to be seen.
