The central government recently proposed an amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act, 1961, aiming to increase the daily work hours from 9 to 10, while retaining the weekly cap at 48 hours.
The stated objective was to offer greater flexibility to employers and employees, potentially enabling a five-day workweek.
However, the proposal has met with strong resistance from the Karnataka government, trade unions, and civil society groups, who argue that the change would adversely affect workers’ well-being and work-life balance.
Karnataka State’s Grounds for Rejection
Karnataka’s Labour Minister Santosh Lad has publicly opposed the proposal, citing the lack of tangible benefits for employees.
He emphasized that in cities like Bengaluru, where commute times often exceed two hours, a 10-hour workday would leave workers with little personal time.
“If someone spends 10 hours at work and 2 hours commuting, that’s 12 hours a day. I don’t see this benefiting the employees,” Santosh stated.
The state government has also highlighted its legislative autonomy under the Concurrent List, which allows both the Centre and states to make laws on labour matters.
Karnataka officials argue that the state’s existing labour laws already permit overtime beyond 9 hours per day, provided the weekly limit of 48 hours is not breached.
This flexibility, they say, makes the Centre’s blanket proposal unnecessary and potentially disruptive.
Karnataka Stakeholder Consultations and Union Response
The decision to reject the proposal follows extensive consultations with stakeholders, including trade unions, HR professionals, and industry representatives.
According to Labour Commissioner H.N. Gopalkrishna, the department has submitted its final report to the minister, which is now pending review by the Chief Minister and Cabinet.
The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), the only registered union for IT sector employees in the state, has played a pivotal role in opposing the amendment.
Over the past several weeks, KITU organized protests across IT parks and commercial hubs, arguing that the proposed change would infringe on workers’ right to personal life.
The union referred to the amendment as “a direct attack on a worker’s fundamental right to a personal life.”
It credited its sustained campaign with influencing the government’s position on the issue.
Legal and Policy Context
Karnataka’s rejection of the proposal is also informed by recent amendments to the Factories and Boilers Act introduced by the previous BJP government.
These amendments permit extended work hours, but only in specific cases.
Such extensions are allowed when there is mutual agreement among employers, employees, and the government.
State officials argue that this approach offers sufficient flexibility without imposing a one-size-fits-all mandate.
The Centre’s proposal, in contrast, has been criticized as an “extreme measure” with potential long-term implications for workplace culture.
Some sectors, especially those in IT and ITeS, have pushed for longer work hours. Their goal is to better align with global delivery models.
In contrast, Karnataka has chosen a worker-centric approach. The state is placing employee welfare ahead of productivity metrics.
Awaiting Final Confirmation
The rejection has not been formally communicated to the Centre yet. Nevertheless, internal sources suggest that the decision is already underway.
It is reported that the Labour Department has instructed the Secretary to prepare and send the official correspondence.
A final decision from the Chief Minister and Cabinet is expected imminently.
Once communicated, the Centre will not be able to enforce the proposal unilaterally, given the state’s jurisdiction over labour policy.
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