Karnataka IT employees union to protest for work-life balance and labour law reforms

The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) has announced a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on March 9, demanding stricter enforcement of labour laws to regulate excessive working hours in the IT sector. The demonstration, themed “A Healthy Work-Life Balance is Every Employee’s Right,” aims to highlight the long working hours and lack of work-life balance that IT employees face.

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According to KITU, many IT professionals regularly work beyond the standard eight-to-nine-hour workday without fair compensation, often extending into weekends. The expectation of constant availability outside office hours has further impacted employees’ mental and physical well-being.

In March 2024, KITU submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka Labour Minister, urging the government to implement clear regulations on working hours and ensure fair overtime pay. However, despite repeated appeals, the union claims that authorities have not taken concrete action.

The union is advocating for strict enforcement of daily working hour limits, revocation of the IT sector’s exemption from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, and strict penalties for labour law violations. Additionally, they demand the introduction of the Right to Disconnect, which would allow employees to refuse after-hours communication without repercussions.