IT Employees Burn Murthy, L&T Chief’s Effigies for Proposing Longer Workweeks
In a bold protest against exploitative work practices, IT employees in Bengaluru burnt effigies of Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan during a demonstration organized by KITU, an IT employees’ union in Karnataka. The incident took place on a recent evening, with the employees vocally expressing their discontent over the proposed longer workweeks by the two industry giants.
Earlier, Murthy had sparked controversy by suggesting that IT employees should work 70-hour weeks to maintain their competitive edge in the market. This proposal was met with widespread criticism from employees, who felt that it was an unrealistic and unfair expectation. Subrahmanyan of L&T, however, took it a step further by suggesting that employees should work up to 90 hours a week. These comments were seen as a direct attack on the work-life balance of IT employees, who are already known for their demanding schedules.
The protest, which was organized by KITU, saw hundreds of IT employees gathered in front of the L&T office in Bengaluru. The employees, who were holding placards and banners, shouted slogans and chanted anti-Murthy and anti-Subrahmanyan slogans. Despite efforts by the Bengaluru Police to stop them, the employees went ahead and burnt effigies of the two industry leaders.
The protest was a clear indication of the growing frustration among IT employees in the city. Many employees spoke about the pressure they face to work longer hours, even on weekends and holidays, to meet the demands of their clients. They also expressed concern about the impact that longer workweeks would have on their personal and mental well-being.
“It’s not just about working longer hours, it’s about our well-being,” said an employee who participated in the protest. “We are already working 12-hour days, six days a week. If we have to work 70 or 90 hours a week, it will be impossible to maintain our health and relationships.”
The protest was also seen as a wake-up call for the government to take action against exploitative work practices in the IT industry. Many employees felt that the government was not doing enough to protect their rights and ensure that they were treated fairly.
“We are not just asking for longer holidays or shorter working hours, we are asking for a better work-life balance,” said another employee who participated in the protest. “We want to be treated as humans, not as machines.”
The incident has sparked a wider debate about the future of work in the IT industry. While some have argued that longer workweeks are necessary to maintain the industry’s competitiveness, others have argued that it is unsustainable and unfair to employees.
The Karnataka government has been criticized for its lack of action on the issue. While the government has made some efforts to improve working conditions in the IT industry, many feel that more needs to be done to protect the rights of employees.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the government will take action to address the concerns of IT employees. One thing is certain, however – the protest has brought attention to the issue and has given a voice to the thousands of IT employees who are struggling to make ends meet.
