Government employees in several districts of North Karnataka are requesting a change in office hours to cope with the scorching summer temperatures. With temperatures soaring above 42 degrees Celsius, the employees are hoping for some respite by adjusting their working hours.
For the past two years, office timings have emained unchanged due to the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. However, with elections now concluded, employees are pushing for revised schedules until May, when the intense heat is expected to subside.
In previous years, the government had altered the office hours in response to the extreme weather. Employees in eight districts, including Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Vijayapura, and Bagalkot, worked from 8 AM to 1:30 PM instead of the usual 10 AM to 5:30 PM. This change followed consultations with regional commissioners and the Karnataka State Government Employees Association.
The harsh working conditions are particularly challenging in rural areas, where government offices often lack adequate facilities such as air-conditioning or coolers. Employees report struggling without essential amenities, making it difficult to work efficiently during peak afternoon hours.
The intense heat has also severely impacted construction labourers. Many of these workers are now allowed a break from 12 PM to 1:30 PM to avoid heatstroke. To compensate, they work an additional hour in the evening. Brick kiln workers have also adjusted their schedules, working early in the morning from 6 AM to 11:30 AM and resuming in the evening from 4:30 PM to 7 PM.
The Karnataka State Construction and Quarrying Workers Association has urged the Labour Department to provide protective gear such as hard hats with built-in sunshades and cooling pads to ensure worker safety. Daily wage earners, already facing financial challenges, are particularly vulnerable in the face of extreme heat.
With temperatures predicted to remain high, the employees and laborers await a prompt response from the authorities to mitigate the impact of the relentless summer heat.
