Karnataka Govt Proposes 10-Hour Workdays, 12-Hour Overtime: Report

The Karnataka government is mulling over amending existing labour laws in the state and allowing companies to extend working shifts to 10 hours for employees in day. The proposal also includes increasing capping on overtime shifts to 12 hours, as reported by the Deccan Herald on Wednesday.

The state government is planning to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1961, to increase the daily working hours to 10 from the current nine hours. The amendment would also allow employers to increase the overtime hours from 10 to 12 hours.

Karnataka's Daily Working Hours Extension

The working hours per day for employees at entities registered in Karnataka cannot be more than nine hours, and the overtime shifts can not be more than nine hours, as per Section 7 of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961.

Overtime Limit To Hike From 50 to 144 Hours In 3 Months

Above the mandatory per day working hours condition, the act has also specified that overtime work for three months can't be more than 50 hours. However, the proposed amendment in the Karnataka Labour laws may lead to an increase in the maximum working hours to 10 hours a day and a maximum overtime of 12 hours per day.

The proposal also seeks to increase the overtime working hours limit from 50 to 144 hours in three months. The Labour Department has favoured the proposed changes and cited that new labour guidelines would align with the central government's directives from the central government encouraging states to align with the national model labour codes.

Other Indian States With Similar Labour Laws

Karnataka is not the first Indian state to increase working hours for employees, as similar working conditions are functional in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand, reported Hindustan Times.

Longer working hours for employees in Karnataka will not only boost productivity among employees but will also help the state in competing at a global level in terms of economic output and growth, according to MG Balakrishna, president of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FKCCI), reported Deccan Herald.

Karnataka Labour Laws Revision: Which Entities Are Covered

The existing working hours and overtime duration, under the labour laws, apply to industries with zero employees, too. However, the revised norms would apply to establishments with ten or more employees.

The proposed amendment has sparked concern among trade unions which have expressed their concern related to the exploitation of workers after the amendment. As per DH, the Bangalore Wholesale Cloth Merchants' Association wrote a letter to the Centre urging it to provide a relaxation of the rules for smaller establishments.

The state government is yet to make any official announcement regarding the same and the Labour Department will schedule a meeting to finalise the amendments. Representatives from government, industry, and labour unions are supposed to take part in the meeting scheduled for Wednesday for discussions. This meeting aims to address various perspectives before implementing any changes.

The proposed amendments have sparked a debate between those advocating for increased productivity and those concerned about worker rights. As discussions continue, stakeholders are keenly watching how these changes might reshape Karnataka's labour landscape.