Sat Jan 11 14:03:40 UTC 2025: ## L&T Chairman’s ₹51 Crore Salary Sparks Controversy Amidst 90-Hour Workweek Plea

**Mumbai, India** – Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s staggering ₹51 crore annual salary has ignited a public debate, particularly in light of his recent advocacy for 90-hour workweeks for company employees. The chairman’s compensation, 535 times the average L&T employee’s salary of approximately ₹9.55 lakh, has drawn sharp criticism.

Subrahmanyan’s package includes a base salary of ₹3.6 crore, prerequisites worth ₹1.67 crore, a commission of ₹35.28 crore, and retirement benefits totaling ₹10.5 crore. While his earnings were significantly lower in FY23 (₹35.67 crore) and FY22 (₹61.27 crore, excluding stock options and dividends), the current figure remains exceptionally high.

The disparity is further amplified by the relatively modest increase in employee salaries. While L&T’s employee-related expenses grew by an average of 11 percent annually between FY22 and FY24, exceeding national inflation, it lagged far behind the company’s revenue growth. Salaries for the company’s roughly 4 lakh employees rose by only 1.74 percent in FY24, compared to a 20.38 percent increase for managerial positions. Subrahmanyan and his wife also received significant dividends.

L&T has defended Subrahmanyan’s 90-hour workweek comment, stating it reflects a broader ambition for India’s progress. However, social media users have criticized the chairman’s stance, highlighting the imbalance between executive compensation and the work-life balance of average employees. One user pointed out the lack of support systems available to lower-level employees, contrasting their situation with the resources and support likely available to the chairman. The company’s ownership structure, heavily reliant on public investors and the L&T Employee Trust, further fuels the controversy. The significant pay gap and the use of company perks, such as a private jet for top executives, have added fuel to the ongoing discussion surrounding executive compensation and employee well-being at L&T.

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