Hundreds of IT and ITeS employees gathered at Freedom Park to demand enforcement of labor laws and a healthy work-life balance. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union highlighted issues like unpaid overtime and mental health problems. Proposed
BENGALURU: Hundreds of IT and ITeS employees Sunday gathered at Freedom Park, asserting that “a healthy work-life balance is every employee’s right”. They demanded enforcement of labour laws in their industry.
The protest was organised by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU). As per the union, employees are expected to work beyond official hours without additional compensation.
The pressures of unrealistic deadlines, unpaid overtime work, and an unregulated environment have taken a toll on the mental and physical health of the employees. They also said a few studies highlighted alarming statistics — over 70% of IT professionals suffer from mental health issues, with burnout, chronic stress, and lifestyle diseases becoming common.
The govt has proposed amendments to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, aiming to increase daily maximum working hours from 12 to 14 hours. “If this amendment goes through, employees won’t have a choice; they will be forced to comply,” Ram Kumar, a software engineer.
Rashmi Choudhary, vice-president of the union, said, “Women are being pushed out of the IT industry… by systemic neglect. We already work 14-16 hours a day, and then return home to unpaid labour. When corporate leaders advocate for 70-hour workweeks, it’s a clear signal of what they intend to normalise. If the govt doesn’t intervene, this will become our reality.”
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