Sun Jan 12 03:40:00 UTC 2025: ## L&T Chairman Sparks Outrage with 90-Hour Work Week Suggestion, While India Already Ranks Among Most Overworked Nations

**NEW DELHI** – Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman SN Subrahmanyan’s recent suggestion that employees should work up to 90 hours a week, including weekends, to boost competitiveness has ignited a firestorm of debate on social media. This controversial proposal follows similar statements from other prominent Indian business leaders, including Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy and Shaadi.com CEO Anupam Mittal.

However, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) data reveals that India already suffers from a significant overwork problem. The ILO ranks India 13th globally in terms of overworked nations, with the average employee working 46.7 hours per week. A staggering 51% of the Indian workforce logs 49 hours or more weekly, placing India second worldwide in the rate of excessively long working hours.

This stark reality casts Subrahmanyan’s suggestion in a critical light. While proponents argue such long hours are necessary for global competitiveness, critics point to the detrimental impact on employee well-being and productivity. The contrast with countries like Vanuatu, where the average work week is a mere 24.7 hours, further highlights the imbalance. The ILO data also shows significantly shorter work weeks in Kiribati (27.3 hours) and Micronesia (30.4 hours). The debate now centers on balancing economic competitiveness with the health and well-being of India’s workforce.

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