Sun Mar 09 14:37:44 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru IT Workers Protest for Better Work-Life Balance

**Bengaluru, March 9, 2025** – Thousands of IT employees took to the streets of Bengaluru on Sunday to demand a healthier work-life balance, protesting against excessive working hours and demanding the implementation of labor laws. The protest, organized by the Karnataka State IT/ ITeS Employees Union (KITU), highlighted several key demands, including enforcing daily working hour limits, ending the IT sector’s exemption from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946, stricter enforcement of labor laws, and the introduction of a “Right to Disconnect” law, similar to that in Australia.

The protest comes amidst a recent debate sparked by comments from prominent industry figures advocating for extremely long working hours. Infosys founder N. Narayana Murthy’s previous suggestion that young people work 70 hours a week, and L&T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan’s proposal for 90-hour work weeks, drew significant criticism. While Murthy later clarified his stance, the comments underscored the ongoing pressure on IT professionals.

KITU leaders emphasized the negative health consequences of extended working hours, citing numerous studies. They accused multinational companies of exploiting workers and disregarding Indian labor laws, with employees regularly working 70-hour weeks without proper overtime compensation. The union has previously submitted a memorandum to the Labour Minister highlighting these concerns and urging an investigation into working hours and overtime payments, but alleges a lack of governmental action. The protest served as a powerful demonstration of the growing demand for fairer working conditions within India’s IT sector.

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